“We're dealing with the present and the future, not looking back to the past," McConnell told Fox News. OnPolitics:The GOP's Trump problemOnly one of the Senate Republican impeachers – Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – is planning to be on a ballot in 2022. In his Fox interview on Wednesday, McConnell said "absolutely we support Sen. Murkowski," and dismissed the complaints about impeachment during Trump's speech. The CPAC speech came less than two weeks after Trump issued a scathing attack on McConnell over his criticism regarding the Jan. 6 insurrection. "Yeah, well, I want to thank him for the 15-point margin I had in 2014 as well," McConnell told reporters.

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department’s inspector general asked the Justice Department in December to consider a criminal investigation into what it said was Elaine Chao’s misuse of her office as transportation secretary in the Trump administration to help promote her family’s shipping business, which is run by her sister and has extensive business ties with China. In a report made public on Wednesday, the inspector general said the Justice Department’s criminal and public integrity divisions both declined to take up the matter in the closing weeks of the Trump administration, even after the inspector general found repeated examples of Ms. Chao using her staff and her office to help benefit her family and their business operations and revealed that staff members at the agency had raised ethics concerns. “A formal investigation into potential misuses of position was warranted,” Mitch Behm, the department’s deputy inspector general, said on Tuesday in a letter to House lawmakers, accompanying a 44-page report detailing the investigation and the findings of wrongdoing. Ms. Chao, the wife of Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, announced her resignation on Jan. 7, the day after the Capitol riot. At the time of her departure, an aide to Ms. Chao said her resignation was unrelated to the forthcoming release of the investigation.

“Our policies must reflect a basic truth: in today’s world, economic security is national security,” the White House document said. “We will make sure that the rules of the international economy are not tilted against the United States,” the report said. The last formal National Security Strategy report was released in 2017, under Trump. ADBiden’s priorities share similarities with Trump’s, including identifying China as a strategic competitor in most realms. They haven’t worked.”Still, the Biden administration has not been shy about using military force.

The House passed its version of legislation early Saturday, and the Senate is debating provisions this week. Some, including Pancotti, are calling for federal benefit expirations to be tied to labor market indicators, such as the unemployment rate. Without action, 11.4 million people are expected to start losing jobless aid on March 14, according to estimates from The Century Foundation. The weekly federal unemployment boost was up for debate again this week with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) A growing body of research has shown no such correlation between boosted unemployment pay and people not returning to work.

Slideshow ( 2 images )WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Virginia’s U.S. Senate Democrats said on Wednesday they were submitting four potential candidates to the White House to be considered for the state’s top two federal prosecutor posts. For the Western District of Virginia U.S. Attorney, they are recommending Erin Ashwell, who serves as chief deputy attorney general for Virginia, and Christopher Kavanaugh, an assistant U.S. Attorney who helped prosecute self-professed Neo-Nazi James Alex Fields, Jr, for killing a counterprotester at the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Biden will decide who to nominate, but traditionally each state’s home senators play a role in interviewing, vetting and recommending candidates for the nation’s 93 U.S. Attorney jobs. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia is known for handling many of the country’s high-profile terrorism and national security-related prosecutions. Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, a career federal prosecutor who is the first person of color to lead the office, did not apply for the job.

But a House Democratic aide said that the police warning, based on intelligence that “an identified militia group” could present a security threat, contributed to the change in plans. “The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” it said in its statement. The police statement noted that the department already has made “significant security upgrades” at the Capitol, home to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. On Tuesday, Acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett notified members of Congress of a possible security threat spanning Thursday through Saturday. Blodgett told lawmakers that the Capitol Police department has “enhanced” its security posture for the coming days.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has suspended an agent who was outside the Capitol when a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building, his lawyer said, in the first known case of authorities examining the conduct of a fellow federal agent during the deadly riot. Federal agents have charged more than 300 people so far with taking part in the riot, including several with connections to law enforcement. Gaspari said Ibrahim was outside the Capitol because “it was a historic event.” She said he did not pass a set of metal barricades outside the building that were quickly overrun by the crowd. Gaspari said he had turned in his resignation before Jan. 6, but withdrew it before it took effect. DEA officials learned Ibrahim had been outside the Capitol after he sent photographs from his phone to a group chat of fellow agents.

Razor wire fencing still encloses much of the Capitol Hill area, and members and staffers must enter through checkpoints manned by armed National Guard troops. Nonetheless, congressional leaders say they will heed the security warnings, with members still shaken from the violence that many of them witnessed two months ago. Some of the security presence, particularly the National Guard, appears to have diminished in recent weeks, though tighter new procedures — such as metal detectors into the House chambers — remain in place. Capitol security officials have indicated that they plan to beef up security for lawmakers in transit, recognizing that many have been targeted in recent months when they’re away from the building. We continue to see far-right extremist groups that are fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories quickly become the most dangerous threat to society.”

“The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” it said in its statement. The statement noted that police have made “significant security upgrades” at the Capitol, home to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. On Tuesday, Acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett notified Congress members of a possible security threat spanning Thursday through Saturday. Congress has held hearings on the riot and congressional leaders in coming days are expected to receive recommendations for new, permanent security measures at the Capitol. The House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 on a charge of inciting an insurrection, focusing on an incendiary speech he made to supporters shortly before the mob converged on the Capitol.

Collin’s statement comes after Sen. Joe Manchin, the moderate West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Energy Committee, said he would vote to confirm Haaland. “While we will not always agree on the administration’s policy, I want to be clear and open with you,” Haaland wrote. Haaland replied, in part, “I support affordable energy prices for all Americans and understand that prices fluctuate and can hurt consumers.”The answers did not sway Barrasso, who along with fellow GOP senators Steve Daines (Mont.) Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho asked Haaland about her support for expanding electric transmission grids, a policy issue that Haaland backed during her time in the House. He also asked her whether she supported encouraging mining on public lands, which experts say will be needed to supply the fast growing markets for battery and electrification technology.

Kaufman’s revenge Presented by Defending Democracy TogetherWith help from Allie BiceWelcome to POLITICO’s 2021 Transition Playbook, your guide to the first 100 days of the Biden administrationTED KAUFMAN does not strike the pose of a #resistance icon. If the Biden administration isn’t explicitly anti-Wall Street, it’s certainly the least Wall Street White House in many decades. Kaufman’s anti-Wall Street streak may be more visceral than Biden’s, but it’s not completely out of step with it. NEC director BRIAN DEESE worked for Wall Street firm BlackRock as the global head of sustainable investing after working all eight years of the Obama administration. As a senator, Kaufman’s two central objectives were reforming presidential transitions and hemming in Wall Street after the Great Recession.

Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's victory. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, rioters storm the Capitol, in Washington. Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's victory. Police were ill-prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. “We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4.” Police did not identify the militia group in the statement.

WASHINGTON — Defense Department leaders placed unusual restrictions on the National Guard for the day of the Capitol riot and delayed sending help for hours despite an urgent plea from police for reinforcement, according to testimony Wednesday that added to the finger-pointing about the government response. Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. “The Army senior leadership” expressed “that it would not be their best military advice to have uniformed Guardsmen on the Capitol,” Walker said. Contee said Sund was pleading with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating mistakes made on Jan. 6.

A Palm Beach mansion opposite former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and with longstanding ties to his family has hit the market for $49 million. The younger Mr. Trump, 37, touted the new listing on his personal twitter account Wednesday morning. Mr. Moens did not respond to a request for comment. Along with its close proximity to Mar-a-Lago, the home sits directly opposite a mansion that also belongs to the former president, property records show. The Palm Beach Daily News first reported the listing.

Yet to many Republicans, it amounts to an unwarranted federal intrusion into a process that states should control. The bill would mandate early voting, same-day registration and other long-sought changes that Republicans reject. “ Former Virginia attorney general and Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli is spearheading a $5 million campaign to pressure Senate Democrats to oppose H.R. Democrats say their aim is to make it easier for more people to vote, regardless of partisan affiliation. But challenges lie ahead in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, including the independents who caucus with Democrats.

The sergeant also claimed the troops, some of whom he said have been hospitalised after eating the food provided for them, were also served mouldy bread and food containing metal shavings. “Yesterday, for instance, there were 74 different meals found with raw beef in them,” the sergeant told WXYZ before providing them with photos of the undercooked meat. “Since the beginning of the mission on 7 January, we’ve served about 26,000 personnel more than 1.2 million meals. And of that, in 0.01 per cent we’ve discovered the appearance of undercooked meals,” the spokesperson said. Five people died and several more were injured on that day, causing House members to barricade themselves inside their offices.

Google says it's focusing on privacy-friendly approaches to ad targeting, Okta acquires Auth0 and a flying taxi startup raises $241 million. This is your Daily Crunch for March 3, 2021. Instead, he pointed to Google technologies like its interest-based Federated Learning of Cohorts. The tech giantsOkta acquires cloud identity startup Auth0 for $6.5B — With Auth0, Okta gets a cloud identity company that helps developers embed identity management into applications. The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch's roundup of our biggest and most important stories.

The House of Representatives canceled votes Thursday in Washington amid new security threats at the Capitol and members will work late into the evening Wednesday. House leadership announced the sudden change in plans Wednesday. The House was to vote Thursday on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, but instead the House will vote on that police reform measure late Wednesday and cancel votes for the remainder of the week. WARREN, PRESSLEY AMONG DEMS PUSHING TO STRIP POLICE OF 'QUALIFIED IMMUNITY'Police announced Wednesday increased security at the Capitol amid new potential threats to lawmakers and the Capitol complex. Lawmakers are still reeling from Jan. 6 riot when pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, destroyed property, threatened lawmakers and forced Congress to evacuate.

The United States faces a $2.59 trillion shortfall in infrastructure needs that requires a massive jump in government spending to address crumbling roads, bridges and other programs, according to an assessment by an engineers group issued on Wednesday. The biggest projected gap is in surface transportation, which faces $1.2 trillion in projected unmet needs over 10 years, while water systems face $434 billion and schools $380 billion in funding gaps. It remains unclear how Biden or Congress will fund new infrastructure spending. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESSThe report praised state and local governments for boosting infrastructure spending. Since 2010, 37 U.S. states raised gas taxes to fund transportation and U.S. voters approved 98% of local infrastructure ballot initiatives in November.

To an extent not seen in a century, America’s two major parties have gone to battle over the rules that govern voting — an intensifying fight that threatens to dominate and embitter the country’s politics. Skirmishes along the battle line flared repeatedly this week:At the Supreme Court, Republican and Democratic lawyers clashed over part of the landmark Voting Rights Act. And it would restore voting rights nationwide to felons who have completed their terms, giving voting rights back to several million people. AdvertisementIn the 1960s, for example, Congress engaged in marathon debates over voting rights for Black Americans. But those fights, which led to passage of the Voting Rights Act and outlawed poll taxes with the 24th Amendment, split both parties.

After allegations emerged that Jackson had improperly distributed prescription drugs, created a hostile work environment, and had problems with drinking, the White House withdrew his nomination. AdvertisementJackson went on to win a crowded Republican primary race to represent a district in northeastern Texas and was elected to Congress in 2020. “I also categorically deny any implication that I was in any way sexually inappropriate at work, outside of work, or anywhere with any member of my staff or anyone else. Jackson had previously recounted to witnesses that he found that rule to be stupid, investigators found. AdvertisementFormer subordinates interviewed by investigators additionally raised the concern that Jackson took Ambien, a powerful sleep-aid medication, to help him sleep during long overseas travel.

Under the changes agreed to by Biden and Senate Democratic leaders, individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 would still receive the full $1,400-per-person benefit. Narrowing eligibility for the stimulus checks was just one change Democratic moderates such as Shaheen and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virgina had been seeking. Senate Democrats do not intend to adopt the suggested change to unemployment benefits, and they will stay at $400 per week, the aide said. The unemployment benefits are set to expire March 14; the Biden bill would extend them through August. With 50 votes in the Senate, Democrats must stay united to pass the legislation, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking any tie.

If Tuesday’s race was a test of Massachusetts liberals’ electoral mettle, they did not pass. To some, this week’s outcome points to the need for ranked-choice voting, a system Massachusetts voters rejected last year, 55 percent to 45 percent. It was “a tragic thing to see that the first election to happen after the defeat of [ranked-choice voting] on the ballot last year is one where ranked-choice voting very well could have led to a different outcome,” said Jonathan Cohn, elections committee chair for Progressive Massachusetts, which had backed Jaramillo. For Turco, discussion of ranked-choice voting amounts to “sour grapes,” and his victory is a win for the political center. Jaramillo, who supports ranked-choice voting, said he considered Tuesday a victory in that “this community overwhelmingly voted for pro-worker, pro-immigrant, pro-women values,” he said.

At least 18 candidates are running in the special election to replace the late Arlington Republican Ron Wright in Congress. The lesser-known GOP candidates are Arlington business and English lecturer Michael Ballantine, tax attorney John Anthony Castro of Mansfield, Arlington lawyer Sery Kim, Austin caregiver Jenny Garcia Sharon, Arlington businessman Michael Wood, Arlington police officer Travis Rodermund and Arlington Republican Mike Egan. Michael F. Olson, Bishop of Fort Worth, leads the funeral service for Congressman Ron Wright Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Moses is making his first run for public office, while Lassiter was a 2021 candidate for the Fort Worth City Council. Though the district leans Republican, a strong Democratic candidate could be a threat if the candidate can make the runoff.

The agency said it recovered the money for 60 employees of Tank Noodle, 4953 N. Broadway. Scott Allen, a spokesman for the Labor Department, said the investigation covered the restaurant’s activities from January 2018 to January 2020. He said Tank Noodle agreed to restitution last December and that “a good portion” of the workers have received their money. Federal records show Tank Noodle received $163,557 in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program last May to retain 30 jobs. Allen said that money had no role in the Labor Department probe.

Defense Department leaders placed unusual restrictions on the National Guard for the day of the Capitol riot and delayed sending help for hours despite an urgent plea from police for reinforcement. The hourslong delay cost the National Guard precious minutes in the early hours of the rioting. Another military official who testified said that then-acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller wanted to make the decisions of how the National Guard was used following criticism last spring. Much of the focus on Wednesday’s Senate hearing centered on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund was pleading with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated.

Capitol Police said earlier Wednesday they have uncovered intelligence of a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The news comes nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

The announcement comes as the Capitol police and other law enforcement agencies are taking heat from Congress in contentious hearings this week on their handling of the Jan. 6 riot. Police were ill-prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. By then, rioters had broken and smashed their way into the building and roamed the halls for hours, stalling Congress’ certification effort temporarily and sending lawmakers into hiding.

The COVID-19 relief measure Senate Democrats planned to unveil will also retain the $400 weekly emergency jobless benefits that were included in a House-approved version of the legislation, the official said. The Senate bill was expected to largely mirror the House-approved package, with the most glaring divergence the Senate’s dropping of language boosting the federal minimum wage to $15 hourly. Democrats’ push to include it in later legislation suggested an effort to satisfy progressives while avoiding jeopardizing the current package. Progressives, though, were still smarting over the virtual certainty that the Senate bill will lack the minimum wage boost, up from $7.25 hourly locked in since 2009. Opposition by moderates including Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has left Democrats without the votes needed to salvage it.

“In fact, the campaign’s cash balance is actually higher than previously listed on the campaign finance reports. In the 2016 cycle, before Donald Trump was elected, the Jordan campaign received a little over $733,000 and spent about $423,000, according to FEC records. But in 2020, they soared: he raked in $18.6 million and spent $13.2 million, and now sits on a $6 million stash. “FEC reports carry-forward financial information to subsequent reports,” he said. “The lack of a quorum of commissioners until the end of last year meant that FEC enforcement had stalled.

House Democrats will accelerate passage of a sweeping police reform bill, bringing the legislation to the floor Wednesday night — and canceling votes Thursday — amid revelations of new threats to the Capitol. Democrats had initially intended a Thursday vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. "[There's] growing concern about threats to the Capitol and Democratic lawmakers in particular tomorrow," one Democratic lawmaker texted. The heightened security has been condemned by many of Trump's Republican allies on Capitol Hill, who have accused Democrats of maintaining unnecessary precautions against a nonexistent threat simply to portray Trump's supporters as universally violent. Although the House will now be on recess beginning Thursday, the Senate is scheduled to remain in session as it continues work on a massive coronavirus relief package.

On average, over the last 21 days the US Border Patrol, part of Customs and Border Protection, arrested around 340 children who crossed the US-Mexico border alone, according to preliminary data outlined in the document. The Biden administration has been reluctant to call the situation unfolding on the US-Mexico border a crisis, instead referring to it as a challenge. After being taken into Border Patrol custody, unaccompanied children are turned over to HHS. in January 2019, the year where there were surges on the border, the Border Patrol encountered 5,515 unaccompanied children. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged the increases in border crossing.

A former senior strategist in the Republican Party has said that former Trump UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley does not understand the hatred of a diverse America brewing with the base of the GOP. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The reason why he became the Republican nominee is because that's who the Republican Party is. He said that what really unites the Republican base "is this complete hate of a diverse America," adding that any Republican who takes a stand against Donald Trump doesn't "recognize what the modern Republican Party fundamentally is".

Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has resisted Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson's repeated attempt to divert the blame from the Capitol riot onto a few so-called "provocateurs". During a joint Senate hearing Wednesday, Mr Johnson said he was only trying to seek out "the truth". Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Johnson read selectively from the piece aloud: "Then, a loud, bellowing shout from behind: ‘Forward!

Joe Biden spoke to House Democrats on a conference call on Wednesday to urge them to continue backing his $1.9trn Covid relief plan, a wide-ranging proposal that has been taking weeks to wend its way towards the legislative finish line. “It’s good policy,” Mr Biden said, “and it’s good politics.”After a public round of fawning introductory remarks from Mr Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the president threw on the cloak of privacy to field questions from members gathered virtually for the House Democrats’ annual retreat. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Senate Democrats had planned to vote on their own Covid relief package this week.

Asylum seekers who have been waiting at the border for over a year while they pursued their cases have started entering the US this week. After taking office in January, President Biden announced it would suspend enrolment in the Trump administration’s Migration Protection Protocols program, known as MPP, also known as the “remain in Mexico” program.

Donald Trump’s comments about intervening in the case of a Huawei executive to get a better trade deal with China are being cited by lawyers as a reason to have her extradition case dismissed. The former president’s alleged political interference and violation of her legal rights have now been presented as reasons by her lawyers that Ms Meng’s extradition case should be thrown out. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. China’s ambassador to Canada said in a video press conference on Twitter on Wednesday that Ottawa could restore relations between the two countries by quickly releasing Ms Meng.

Joe Biden re-opened the federal health insurance marketplace to uninsured Americans from 15 February through 15 May. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Nearly 15 million Americans lost employer-sponsored health insurance plans by October 2020, according to a report from the Commonwealth Fund. Following his inauguration, Mr Biden issued an executive order to temporarily reopen the government’s insurance marketplace.

This week on the podcast:— The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to de-escalate fighting in Syria which has brought the two countries to the brink of direct military confrontation. Financial Times Bureau Chief Henry Foy joins us in the studio to discuss what is at stake for both countries. The episode was recorded and edited at CM Records Studio in central Moscow. Read More:Russia’s Syria gamble under pressure as Turkey attacks in IdlibHawks say Sanders will be weak on Russia. But Putin should fear a President Bernie

In other words, I’m very into sedition and insurrection these days. Russian has four main words for insurrection, ranging from big and planned to spontaneous and/or violent. And then there’s ???? (rebellion, revolt, uprising), which is often even less organized and even more riotous than ????????? or ?????. To describe what happened in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, Russian newspapers and commentators used pretty much every word in the book — ?????, ????, ????????? — subtleties of language be damned. ????????? ???????? ?????? ? ????????????????? ? ?????? (Democrats accused Trump of sedition).

"I don't understand the political or economic wisdom in allowing Trump to give more people relief checks than a Democratic administration. "I don't understand the political or economic wisdom in allowing Trump to give more people relief checks than a Democratic administration." Conservative Dems have fought so the Biden admin sends fewer & less generous relief checks than the Trump admin did. "That means more generous relief checks, $15 min wage, ending the filibuster to protect our democracy. But one is that this would likely ensure that many of oft-discussed middle-class suburbanites who flipped from Trump to Biden will have received stimulus checks from Trump but not Biden.

Save America has more than $80 million in cash on hand, including $3 million raised after the CPAC speech, according to a person familiar with the total. He’s already endorsed a Republican challenger to GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, who voted to impeach Trump over the U.S. Capitol riot. Money raised through Trump’s website now goes to Save America JFC, a joint fundraising agreement between the two. AdvertisementAnd the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned this week that its “limited edition” T-shirts featuring Trump were almost sold out. Regardless of Trump’s next move, the GOP is unlikely to remove him from its sales pitch anytime soon.

Vaccine manufacturer Merck, a competitor of Johnson & Johnson, then agreed to help manufacture the newly approved vaccine to double its U.S. capacity, a move brokered by the Biden White House. Using the Defense Production Act, the Biden administration allocated $100 million to expand drug manufacturing and to convert a Merck facility into a manufacturing plant. Everything clicked into place on Saturday, when the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved by the FDA. Postal Service and FedEx hubs for delivery on Tuesday, when the first Johnson & Johnson vaccines were administered to Americans. Still, the challenge of vaccinating enough Americans to reach herd immunity is momentous and not entirely within Biden’s control.

On average, over the last 21 days the US Border Patrol, part of Customs and Border Protection, arrested around 340 children who crossed the US-Mexico border alone, according to preliminary data outlined in the document. The average time in Border Patrol facilities, which are not designed to hold children, was 77 hours, longer than the 72 permitted under US law. After being taken into Border Patrol custody, unaccompanied children are turned over to HHS. in January 2019, the year where there were surges on the border, the Border Patrol encountered 5,515 unaccompanied children. Customs and Border Protection acknowledged the increases in border crossing.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives canceled its Thursday session after receiving information about a possible security threat at the Capitol on March 4. The United States Capitol Police said Wednesday they were aware of a “possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group,” and a notice sent to all congressional offices said the agency was bolstering its security presence on Capitol Hill. March 4 has been highlighted by the debunked QAnon conspiracy as the “true inauguration day” for former President Donald Trump. More:Police bolster security at US Capitol as QAnon theory claims Trump will become president March 4The Senate has not announced plans to discontinue its Thursday session. The House moved its remaining votes for the week to Wednesday night to avoid putting lawmakers at risk on Thursday.

Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. “The Army senior leadership” expressed “that it would not be their best military advice to have uniformed Guardsmen on the Capitol,” Walker said. Much of the focus at Wednesday’s Senate hearing was on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund was pleading with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating mistakes made on Jan. 6.

That was a no-go for the White House, as Politico reported, and Biden accepted Tanden’s letter withdrawing from consideration. “You should be judged by the time,” one White House official told PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor. “And the time we were in, we just had a fool in the White House tweeting all kinds of shit. — How the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Was Hobbled by Turf Wars and Magical Thinking— From the Archive: The Complicated Dynamic Between the Young JFK, His Formidable Brother, and Their Tycoon Father— Not a subscriber? Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.

Rumors have been swirling among New York Democrats that more women will be coming forward with new allegations. Democratic political operatives I spoke to said Cuomo would be unlikely to survive if a new accuser came forward. Another reason Cuomo looks like he will weather the storm is that powerful Democrats aren’t motivated to push him out the door. “If you’re James, you want him weakened so he can’t run,” the political consultant said. “The behavior described in these allegations against Governor Cuomo is completely unacceptable, and every allegation of sexual harassment must be taken seriously and be reviewed,” she said.

The Mandalorian actor Bill Burr weighed in on Lucasfilm severing ties with Gina Carano in a recent episode of his podcast. Super-nice fucking person,” Burr said on his podcast The Bill Bert Podcast, which he co-hosts with Bert Kreischer. The post was one of many offensive stances Carano publicized in the last few months. “Joe DeRosa with an interesting take, look at you!” Burr replied. Now I gotta watch what the fuck I say.”“It’s fucking crazy time,” Burr continued.

Seuss books should be fun for all people: Black, white, straight, gay. “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told the Associated Press in a statement. “I literally know The Cat in the Hat by heart,” Trump Jr. groused in a Fox News clip rolled by Colbert. “Also I think his dad calls him and Eric [Trump] Thing 1 and Thing 2.”Besides, Colbert reminded viewers, there are millions of other children’s books to choose from. Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.

Remember Ronny Jackson? Former White House doctor nicknamed the Candyman because of the way he allegedly doled out prescription drugs? Claimed that Donald Trump had “incredibly good genes” and that if he’d eaten a little healthier, he could have lived to be “200 years old”? Earned a nomination to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, which he later withdrew over accusations that he created a toxic work environment and was drunk on an overseas work trip? There’s a new Pentagon report out concerning his behavior, and it’s not a great look!

The bill serves “one goal only: to give leftists a permanent, unfair, and unconstitutional advantage in our political system,” Pence wrote in the Daily Signal, arguing H.R.1 would hinder election reform at the state and local level. As is characteristic of those sowing unfounded doubt on the election process, the former vice president kept it vague. “I share the concerns of millions of Americans about the integrity of the 2020 election,” Pence wrote, reiterating evidence-free allegations of “an election marked by significant voting irregularities and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law.” The op-ed—among his most substantial remarks since the Capitol attack—was notably without mention of the man who popularized such election misinformation, as Politico’s Kyle Cheney pointed out. “I do think he should’ve stood up for Trump,” one CPAC volunteer told the Times of the former president’s impossible request that Pence overturn Biden’s legitimate election victory. Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.

Tiger King star Carole Baskin was targeted with a DWTS ad by the family of her missing husband. Now, incarcerated reality star Joe Exotic appears to like that idea. On Tuesday, he shared that he had been retained by convicted animal abuser and attempted murderer Joe Exotic. Phillips says that it was after this attempt went nowhere that Joe Exotic reached out to him. One has to imagine that Joe Exotic selected Phillips since he is already going after Carole Baskin on behalf of her missing husband's family.

michael barbaro From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. michael barbaro OK, and in terms of size and scale, how does this package number three stack up against the first two? jim tankersley You get aid to state and local governments, who have had to lay off a lot of workers. michael barbaro So this is non-traditional stimulus, but stimulus uniquely suited to a pandemic recession? michael barbaro Jim, this is a pretty historic thing to pass on a party line vote, $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus.

Seventy-three countries saw their freedoms retreat, whereas just 28 countries made strides toward a more democratic society:That means nearly three-quarters of the earth’s people now live in a country where democracy is declining. Of those countries, some saw a deeper retreat than others, including Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Tanzania, India, and the United States. Meanwhile, the United States, the world’s most visible democracy, shed several points on the freedom index in the aftermath of its presidential election, when defeated candidate Donald Trump refused to concede. According to Freedom House, 2020 was a bad year for democracy across the board. And in El Salvador, the government deployed troops to enforce a COVID-19 lockdown, confining thousands of people for alleged violations.

For both U.S. business, and any business operating in the U.S., the message is very clear: To survive and thrive in the net-zero future, now is the time to scale up climate action. Companies that fail to take climate action soon are risking that their products and services will become unviable. When it comes to climate, companies like Orsted are a great example of the benefits of taking decisive action. It aims to achieve 100% clean electricity nationwide by 2035, with 40% of clean energy funding directed to disadvantaged communities. By backing clean energy, Biden recognizes that it is competitive and will only become more so.

And hate to break it to you, but not everyone is getting a third relief check. You may have a COVID-19 relief check coming your wayHave a sweet six-figure income? Senate Democrats reached a deal with President Joe Biden to limit the eligibility for $1,400 checks in his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill to Americans earning less than $80,000, according to two sources. Biden's COVID-19 relief plan includes a child tax credit boost popular with Democrats but a "nightmare" to Republicans. "I fully support a woman’s right to come forward, and I think it should be encouraged in every way," Cuomo said.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives canceled its Thursday session after receiving information about a possible security threat at the Capitol on March 4. The United States Capitol Police said Wednesday they were aware of a “possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group,” and a notice sent to all congressional offices said the agency was bolstering its security presence on Capitol Hill. March 4 has been highlighted by the debunked QAnon conspiracy as the “true inauguration day” for former President Donald Trump. More:Police bolster security at US Capitol as QAnon theory claims Trump will become president March 4The Senate has not announced plans to discontinue its Thursday session. The House moved its remaining votes for the week to Wednesday night to avoid putting lawmakers at risk on Thursday.

The Tiger King is ready to tell his side of the story. Joseph "Joe Exotic" Maldonado-Passage's book, "Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir," is set to be published in November from Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The tell-all will focus on Maldonado-Passage, "a proud polygamist and self-proclaimed 'gun-toting, gay redneck with a mullet,'" says a description on the publisher's website. Maldonado-Passage rose to fame when Netflix released documentary "Tiger King" at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. News: "It's going to be a truth-tell book... Everybody that's ever done anything good, it's going to be in there and anybody that's got bones in your closet, you better look out."

The Capitol Police is increasing security in an effort to thwart a potential attack Thursday by “an identified militia group,” the department revealed Wednesday. Scott ApplewhiteWednesday’s statement from the department also comes in the midst of weeks of congressional hearings into the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Last week, Congress heard from the acting Capitol Police chief and the acting House sergeant-at-arms, as well as their predecessors who resigned in the wake of the riot. Members of the National Guard walk near the US Capitol Building on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2021. It is not clear what additional reinforcements the Capitol Police took up in the wake of the March 4 threat.

ADThe Capitol Police and the FBI have been criticized for not acting on intelligence supplied by the FBI’s Norfolk field office shortly before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. We are always on alert for any potential threats.”The D.C. police declined to discuss their response to the potential threat. “In regards to public safety planning, MPD does not discuss operational tactics,” police spokeswoman Alaina Gertz said in an email. ADIn addition to the National Guard and increased police presence, the Capitol grounds have been surrounded by security fencing since the Jan. 6 insurrection. But after that briefing, members of Congress reacted negatively to the idea of maintaining expansive physical barriers to the Capitol.

Progressives wanted to do as much as possible, and moderates wanted to find ways to scale back the bill’s ambitions. ADADIt does mean, however, that some people who got stimulus checks from then-President Donald Trump won’t be getting them from Biden. (Republicans wanted the stimulus checks to be reduced even further, so you could argue that the final bill will have moved slightly in their direction, even if they won’t support it.) Cutting back the stimulus checks won’t make it any more so. And no senator would have been the victim of a vicious attack ad skewering them for allowing stimulus checks to phase out slightly more slowly for people in the middle- to upper-middle class.

The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package passed by the House is "a wildly out-of-proportion response to where the country is at the moment," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told "The Story" Wednesday. "This $1.9 trillion bill is the same size of the bill we passed last April, right in the middle of the pandemic," McConnell told host Martha MacCallum. Only 9% of this $1.9 trillion is related to health care, and less than 1% of this $1.9T bill is related to vaccines." Despite his criticism, McConnell said he suspected the bill would narrowly pass the Senate, with moderate Democrat Sens. There's nobody [who's] going to come close to beating Lisa Murkowski when she runs for reelection next year."

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Millions of U.S. households who received coronavirus-relief payments under President Donald Trump would not get aid under a modified version of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion aid package announced on Wednesday, analysts said. That means nearly 9 million fewer households would get direct payments this time around, said Kyle Pomerleau, a tax analyst with the conservative American Enterprise Institute. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy calculated that those payments now would help 11.8 million fewer adults and 4.6 million fewer children than the more generous version that passed the House. But 200 million adults and 80 million children would still see benefits, the left-leaning think tank estimated. Some 162 million households received payments under the first round of payments included in the CARES Act of 2020, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada March 1, 2021. Trump’s alleged political interference and violation of her legal rights are cited by Meng’s lawyers as reasons her extradition case should be thrown out. Ten days after Meng’s arrest, then-President Trump told Reuters in an interview that he would intervene in the case to get a better trade deal with China. “Our contention is that his words amount to an abuse of process.”Canadian prosecutors have said Trump’s statements about Huawei and the trade deal are no longer relevant since he has left office and the deal has already been signed. “Nothing the ambassador can say now will dissuade me from understanding that is indeed the case,” he said.

Now, six weeks into the Biden administration, it’s not the president but his White House chief of staff, Ron Klain, whose online activity is generating the most intrigue in Washington. By comparison, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted a total of only 43 times in the same 37-day stretch. Most of Klain’s tweets — about 40 percent — are retweets from journalists or news organizations who post about the work of the administration. So certainly what he’s projecting and communicating about is reflective of what we’re focused on internally day to day,” Psaki said. “We decided pretty early on we want people engaging on Twitter,” said Rob Flaherty, the White House digital director.

Golden statue of former US president Donald Trump at CPAC (AFP via Getty)The golden Donald Trump statue that appeared at last week’s conference for the country’s conservatives was actually made in China — rather than Mexico — the creator reportedly admitted. Artist Tommy Zegan told reporters last week that the six foot statue of the former US president was assembled in Mexico — a country routinely belittled by Mr Trump. It immediately went viral after it was wheeled into the hall at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida, for last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where Mr Trump delivered an address on Sunday. "Two years ago, when I saw all those statues of naked Trump and Trump on a toilet, I said, 'You know what? I can do better,' " Mr Zegan said.

Anthony Scaramucci, managing partner of SkyBridge Capital and former White House communications director for the Trump administration, says if the Republican Party goes with Trump as its 2024 nominee, he'll work to make the GOP a "minority party for at least a generation." However, Scaramucci, who has publicly and repeatedly disavowed Trump, thinks Trump would be defeated once again if he's the nominee. What's more, if the Republican Party embraces "Trumpism," Scaramucci said there's a large working group exploring ideas on starting another party, with many willing participants ready to contribute money to make a third party viable. "I am not starting a new party," Trump said. Scaramucci, a life-long Republican, said Trump has turned the party into "a Trump personality cult" instead of a principle-based organization.

Last month I wrote about how former Vice President Mike Pence, while he may have been a potential target of the Jan 6. Pence abetted then-President Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the 2020 election, praising an ill-fated lawsuit filed by Texas in the Supreme Court seeking to overturn election results in four states. And the changes being pushed by Republican state legislators would make it harder for people (especially Democrats) to vote. To paraphrase Trump’s description of the death toll from COVID-19, Pence is what he is. Bloomberg News reports that Trump’s advisors have been discussing a female or Black running mate for Trump.

The Department of Defense inspector general released a scathing report Wednesday on the conduct of Ronny Jackson, now a congressman from Texas, when he worked as a top White House physician. AdvertisementAfter interviewing 78 witnesses and reviewing a host of White House documents, investigators concluded that Jackson, who achieved the rank of rear admiral, failed to treat his subordinates with dignity and respect. The report also said the investigation into Jackson “was limited in scope and unproductive” as Trump’s White House counsel insisted on being present at all interviews, which had a “potential chilling effect” on the probe. And witnesses said Jackson took sleep medication on long overseas travel, which left subordinates worried that it could have left him incapacitated and unable to work. After allegations emerged that Jackson had created a hostile work environment and improperly distributed prescription drugs, the White House withdrew the nomination.

The Pentagon had removed his authority to quickly deploy his troops, which also slowed the response to the riot, he said. Military officials had authorized Guard troop deployment at 3:04 p.m., according to the Pentagon, an approval that was itself delayed as officials there debated concerns about the optics of sending troops into the Capitol. He said he could have had 150 troops at the Capitol in 20 minutes. He also said that he believed that Pentagon officials’ concerns about optics were misguided and that forces needed to be quickly sent to the Capitol to help repel the rioters. Meanwhile, Capitol Police say they have uncovered intelligence of a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the US Capitol on Thursday.

Advertisement“Over the past decade, my biggest win was survival,” says Rob Day, a longtime investor in energy technologies who is based in Marblehead. But there’s a new wave of interest in what has been renamed “climate tech,” and lots of money is once again flowing. Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures in January committed an additional $1 billion to investing in startups that can reduce carbon emissions, and one of its top leaders, Carmichael Roberts, is based in Brookline. A decade ago, talking about developing new technologies that would impact the climate was “a bit of a third rail. “But if you’re looking to remove half a gigaton of carbon emissions a year, those kinds of technologies are probably getting deployed in multiple countries, on multiple continents.

By Brian Slodysko and Lisa Mascaro | Associated PressWashington — House Democrats are poised to pass a sweeping elections and ethics bill, offering it up as a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country. This bill “will put a stop at the voter suppression that we’re seeing debated right now,” said Rep. Nikema Williams, a new congresswoman who represents the Georgia district that deceased voting rights champion John Lewis held for years. In Iowa, the legislature has voted to cut absentee and in-person early voting and prevent local elections officials from setting up additional locations to make early voting easier. It would limit states’ ability to purge registered voters from their rolls and mandate the restoration of former felons’ voting rights. Some Democrats have discussed options like lowering the threshold to break a filibuster, or creating a workaround that would allow priority legislation, including a separate John Lewis Voting Rights bill, to be exempt.

Cuomo’s cable TV briefings won an Emmy (probably the one honor Trump had craved most). Hardly anyone outside the right-wing media bubble paid attention. Now, the story is all over mainstream media. A scathing January report from New York State Attorney General Letitia James concluded the Cuomo administration undercounted deaths in long-term care by as much as 50%. Speaking of ironies: Cuomo’s previous book, published in 2014, was titled "All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life."

The unpublished report compiled by the defense department’s inspector general was first obtained by CNN, and includes testimony from 60 witnesses about Jackson’s behavior at work. He was later appointed physician to the president by former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump until 2018. The new report from the Pentagon watchdog found that Jackson “disparaged, belittled, bullied and humiliated” more junior colleagues, including making “sexual and denigrating” comments about a female co-worker. In a statement, Jackson said the inspector general had resurrected “false allegations” because he had “refused to turn my back on President Trump”. Jackson’s office noted that Obama had promoted him to rear admiral “after the alleged events” outlined in the report.

Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources ended its grey wolf hunting season early after hunters and trappers in the state killed 216 wolves over the weekend. Native American tribes in the area consider the wolves sacred, and usually use their allotment of hunting licenses to protect the wolf population, rather than killing them. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In 2020, the Trump administration removed the grey wolf from the Endangered Species List.

A pro-Trump rioter involved in the storming of the US Capitol who allegedly hit police officers with a fire extinguisher travelled to Washington, DC on a bus organised by conservative group Turning Points USA (TPUSA). “This historic event will likely be one of the largest and most consequential in American history,” Mr Kirk wrote. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A judge ruled that Mr Sanford could be released before his trial with GPS monitoring of his whereabouts.

A Texas lawmaker has unveiled plans for a committee that would promote 'patriotic education' across the state's schools, parks and museums. Rep. Tan Parker is pressing for the 1836 Project - named after the year Texas achieved independence from Mexico - according to legislation filed Monday. The committee will focus on remembering the Texas War for Independence, the annexation of Texas by the US and Juneteenth. 'Many of our children are taught to denounce Texas history and do not understand what it means to be a virtuous citizen.' They will focus on the Texas War for Independence, the annexation of Texas by the US and Juneteenth, he saidSouth Dakota Gov.

President Joe Biden is 'comfortable' cutting off stimulus checks to Americans who make more than $80,000, the White House indicated Wednesday, bowing to pressure from Senate moderates. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are calling for recurring relief checks to be included in future relief packages. The House version of the bill, which passed early Saturday, also phased out stimulus checks, but had a higher ceiling. The two other series of stimulus checks have also been tailored by income. Both Biden and Trump supported stimulus checks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Election Commission on Tuesday asked U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s campaign committee to explain large accounting discrepancies between reports it filed several years ago and corrected reports the committee filed earlier this year. Several March 2 letters from the FEC ask Jordan’s campaign to explain:* an increase in disbursements totaling $122,706.60 on its 2018 post-general election report. * a decrease in receipts totaling $111,950.54 on Jordan’s campaign finance report for the first quarter of 2019. “The campaign has filed an amendment with the FEC to correct its campaign finance reports going back to 2018,” said a statement from Jordan’s campaign manager, Kevin Eichinger. From 2019 through 2020, Jordan raised $18,637,140, spent $13,268,968 and finished with more than $6 million in the bank.

Plot is centred on QAnon belief Trump is true president and will assume office, but conspiracists warn of ‘false flag’. “The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” the Capitol Police, a law enforcement agency tasked with protecting Capitol grounds, said in a release. “We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4. — Julia E. Ainsley (@JuliaEAinsley) March 3, 2021The possible plot appears to be connected to a theory related to the far-right QAnon conspiracy movement. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is known for her past support of aspects of the QAnon movement.

The opinion piece is one of Pence’s first statements since leaving office amid a bitter feud with his longtime ally Trump. Pence never criticized Trump for putting his life in danger but he did break with him by attending Biden’s inauguration.

A dog smells pieces of tar from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, on a beach in the Gdor Nature Reserve near Michmoret, Israel, Monday, March 1, 2021. The cleanup from the disastrous oil spill that has blackened most of the country's shoreline is expected to take months. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)A dog smells pieces of tar from an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, on a beach in the Gdor Nature Reserve near Michmoret, Israel, Monday, March 1, 2021. The cleanup from the disastrous oil spill that has blackened most of the country's shoreline is expected to take months. Over 90% of Israel’s 195 kilometer (120-mile) Mediterranean coastline was covered in more than 1,000 tons of black tar, the result of the mysterious oil spill in international waters.

On Tuesday, the Biden Administration announced a set of sanctions against Russia, in response to its attempted assassination, this past August, of the opposition politician Alexey Navalny with a nerve agent. The sanctions were at once more than any U.S. Administration had done and less than would seem rational or proportionate if viewed purely as a response to an attempted murder. Those it did include have all previously been sanctioned by the European Union: five were listed in the fall, in response to Navalny’s poisoning, and two were sanctioned last week, in response to Navalny’s arrest and imprisonment upon returning to Moscow. And we’re neither seeking to reset our relations with Russia, nor are we seeking to escalate.”But what is the Administration seeking to do? Morally, the Biden Administration had to act, because the President ran on the promise of being tough on Russia.

In the early nineteen-sixties, the order was thriving, as women educated by the I.H.M.s, as the sisters were known, became I.H.M.s themselves. In 1970, there were a hundred and sixty thousand consecrated Catholic women in the U.S. Today, there are forty thousand, and their average age is almost eighty. While Pope Francis and his subordinates in the Curia tussle over the fine points of Vatican reform, a cohort of American Catholic nuns is dying. They are laughably out of step with the accomplished roles of Catholic women in secular American society—two Supreme Court Justices, a House Majority Leader, and an Inaugural poet among them. One area of the Vatican where women are prominently represented is in the diplomatic corps, and Joe Biden, the second Catholic President, ought to appoint a woman as U.S.

The report, which was obtained by The New York Times, shed light on a number of rumors that had dogged Dr. Jackson beginning in 2018, after former President Donald J. Trump nominated him to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. After allegations emerged that Dr. Jackson had improperly distributed prescription drugs, created a hostile work environment, and had problems with drinking, the White House withdrew his nomination. Dr. Jackson went on to win a crowded Republican primary race to represent a district in northern Texas and was elected to Congress in 2020. The 37-page report, first described by CNN, painted a picture of a physician who engaged in reckless and sometimes threatening behavior, creating an uncomfortable environment for subordinates. A majority of the 60 witnesses interviewed by investigators said that Dr. Jackson had created a negative work environment, and nearly all of them said they had either personally witnessed, experienced or heard from colleagues about Dr. Jackson “screaming, cursing or belittling subordinates.”

michael barbaro From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. michael barbaro OK, and in terms of size and scale, how does this package number three stack up against the first two? jim tankersley You get aid to state and local governments, who have had to lay off a lot of workers. michael barbaro So this is non-traditional stimulus, but stimulus uniquely suited to a pandemic recession? michael barbaro Jim, this is a pretty historic thing to pass on a party line vote, $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus.

"I wish her all the best," the former Trump White House press secretary said of her successorDespite their political differences, there's no bad blood between former and current White House press secretaries Kayleigh McEnany and Jen Psaki, they both say. "I left her a note saying that much," said McEnany, who served as President Donald Trump's White House spokeswoman and regularly made headlines for sparring with reporters. "We've met previously one time," McEnany said, "and she [Psaki] was very kind and so were some of her colleagues in the press shop." In the White House briefing room Tuesday, a reporter mentioned the news of McEnany's hiring at Fox News to Psaki, asking if she would be willing to sit with the former press secretary for an interview. I met her when we were both CNN contributors, and we did a few shows — I'm not sure how many — together."

Anti-Trump Republicans are facing punishment at home. But don't call it a civil war. Added: 03.03.2021 21:18 | 6 views | 0 comments“The only division is between a handful of Washington, D.C., establishment political hacks and everybody else all over the country," Trump said Sunday.

Drug Pitched to Trump for Covid-19 Comes From a Deadly PlantAdded: 20.08.2020 20:10 | 12 views | 0 commentsSource: www.youtube.comThe chief executive of My Pillow, a Trump donor, claims oleandrin is a miracle cure for Covid-19. But no studies have shown that it is safe or effective, and the shrub it’s derived from is poisonous. More in www.nytimes.com »

Republicans condemned Trump after the Capitol attack. Now they are opening the door to him as the future of the party.

Tim Allen says he 'kind of liked' when President Trump made people angryAdded: 03.03.2021 18:27 | 11 views | 0 commentsTim Allen got political on a podcast, saying he "realized" he "kind of liked" when President Trump pissed people off.

Right now, 19 states tax forgiven PPP loans, either by including them as taxable income or disallowing deductions for business expenses made with the loans, says Katherine Loughead, senior policy analyst for the Tax Foundation, which has published a map showing the loans' tax status by state. Legislatures in at least seven of the 19 states in question--Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Virginia--have introduced bills to exclude PPP loans from taxation. And it's hard to compare the impact with past years, since PPP loans are new. But second-draw PPP loans in Wisconsin are expected to be taxed, says Irina Petrashkevich, senior manager for tax policy and advocacy for the American Institute of CPAs. There, PPP loans are fully tax-free for corporations, but taxable for individuals--even though the PPP targets the smallest businesses, in addition to those with up to 500 employees.

Several key features distinguish TikTok from almost every other social platform. The effect is similar to YouTube’s much maligned recommendation algorithm, which notoriously leads users to more and more extreme content. From the minute you enter the platform, you’re riding through the wormhole. What makes a TikTok video more potent than a hyperpartisan meme shared on Facebook or a retweeted #MAGA slogan? When you make a video on the platform, you’re staring at a mirror image of yourself.

Walker described the Pentagon’s restrictions as “unusual,” noting that he did not have such limitations last summer, when the D.C. Guard was tasked with responding to local racial-justice protests after the killing of George Floyd. Much of the hearing focused on how long it took the Pentagon to give the members of the D.C. Guard who were already deployed that day a new mission and send them to the Capitol. Though the acting defense secretary called up the full D.C. Guard shortly after 3 p.m. in response to the riot, he did not give the members of the D.C. Guard who were already deployed that day a new mission and send them to the Capitol until 4:32 p.m., Salesses said. He acknowledged, however, that the D.C. Guard did not receive that change in assignment until 5:08 p.m., more than half an hour later. In addition to congressional inquiries, the inspectors general of several federal agencies are investigating officials’ response.

"I didn't know that it was QAnon. I didn't know any of that, but it started on TikTok." Vanderbilt told "The View" that she prepared for the possible blackout by stocking up on groceries and filling up her car's gas tank. In August 2020, Trump made comments on QAnon’s conspiracy theory featuring him as its savior. In hindsight, Vanderbilt offered a message to those who still follow the QAnon conspiracy theory.

The intelligence, which an FBI bulletin said could involve the "Three Percenters" group, which prosecutors call extremist, is being taken "seriously," the Capitol Police officials said in a statement posted on Twitter. The Capitol complex remains surrounded with temporary fencing topped with razor wire and some 5,000 National Guard troops remain on site. An internal U.S. Capitol Police bulletin distributed Tuesday contains information about a possible militia plot to storm the Capitol on or around March 4, sources told ABC News. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately comment on the intelligence information. One law enforcement source said that initial intelligence does not support a crowd of 50,000 is coming to Washington, D.C., this week.

After all, a big part of why the Golden Globes became the Golden Globes is because they’ve been historically seen as a prescient bellwether for the subsequent Academy Awards. In other words, juuuust under half of all Globe winners — 49.8 percent to be exact — will go on to win the Oscar. Of the last 30 Best Actress Oscar winners, 27 won the Globe. All that said, if there were ever a year that a bunch of cool, unlikely Golden Globe winners could ride that momentum to Oscar wins, it’d be this year. Recent history says a Golden Globe is worth a 50/50 shot at an Academy Award.

Photo: martin-dm/Getty ImagesOne year ago, droves of U.S. college students were ordered to abandon their dorms and campuses and return home. Amid the chaos, many international students found themselves in an unprecedented situation, forced to choose between the college experience they’d expected and their home country. We talked to five international students who were forced to learn just how big the world can really feel. The pandemic put a lot of things into perspective for me, especially the fragility of my parents getting older. Now I am back at school in America, but my family is still in full lockdown at home.

Do you have any sense what was behind the large rightward shift among Hispanic voters? In the summer, following the emergence of “defund the police” as a nationally salient issue, support for Biden among Hispanic voters declined. I’m not claiming that white liberals are somehow less racist than people of color, to the extent that question even makes sense. I mean, Hispanic voters are more liberal on immigration than white voters. If you look at, for example, decriminalizing border crossings, that’s not something that a majority of Hispanic voters support.

Many teachers unions have insisted, in contradiction to the CDC’s official guidance, that schools should be reopened only when all teachers are vaccinated, and in some cases not even then. A classic example is the wave of media shaming of people who visited beaches last year, even though the risk of spread is tiny. The same tendency has caused them to overstate the risk that vaccinated people can transmit the virus and understate the protections vaccines offer. Under any sane calculation, whether school poses a small risk or an extremely small risk hardly matters, because the alternative is a social catastrophe that dwarfs any public health effect. That school districts are parsing the precise contours of the risk now is a testament to the power of Zeroism.

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesDonald Trump is gone from D.C., but the divisions he sowed among congressional Republicans remain. “It’s important that we not be a personality-based party,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune told Politico this week. As congressman Jim Jordan, the Platonic ideal of a Trump apostle, tweeted last month, “The Republican Party is no longer the ‘wine and cheese’ party. To the contrary, the Congressional Republicans most worshipful of Trump also tend to be among the most orthodox in their economic views. Graphic: Brookings Institute/The Washington PostTo be sure, no GOP senators support a $15 minimum wage either.

In August, Krulikas posted on Instagram about an incident that took place in 2014, when Cawthorn was 19 and she was 17. The two had agreed to go on a date, and Cawthorn drove them to a secluded spot in the woods. According to her account, they sat around a bonfire, and soon, Cawthorn started talking about sex, which made Krulikas uncomfortable. Cawthorn would take young women to secluded areas, lock the doors, and proceed to make unwanted sexual advances,” the letter read. “Seeing the Eagles Nest has been on my bucket list for awhile, it did not disappoint,” Cawthorn wrote.

The retired Navy rear admiral served as physician to the president from 2013 to 2018 under former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He previously worked in the White House Medical Unit under former president George W. Bush. A major aspect of the report was focused on how Jackson treated subordinates under his leadership. The claims included drunkenness while on duty, overprescribing medications, and promoting a hostile work environment. Jackson was elected to Congress in 2020 after winning a runoff election in the Republican primary and defeating his Democratic challenger in the general.

Pence doesn’t acknowledge any error made by Trump or even concede that he legitimately lost the election. A “substantive discussion in Congress about election integrity” — i.e., another forum to repeat Trump’s lie about the election being stolen. Pence proceeds to argue that all changes to election law must be carried out at the state level. This conveniently means the changes will be designed by Republican officials rather than by Democrats, who control Congress. And now Pence seeks to lead them into a future in which minority rule can be locked in forever.

Then, the number shrunk: $2,000 was actually $1,400, because Trump had already given us $600. On Wednesday, Biden agreed to further narrow the eligibility for stimulus payments under the coronavirus relief bill that has been bouncing around the House and Senate bureaucracies since before he took office. The new change is relatively simple: Biden wants to lower the income threshold that triggers diminishing returns on the stimulus payments. But people who make upwards of $100,000 a year, however, would only get partial payments on a sliding scale. Who actually wants this?

No amount of smoothing or spin can overshadow the indelible photograph published in the New York Times on Monday night: Governor Andrew Cuomo, red-faced and leering, clutching the face of a woman half his age at a wedding while she recoils in disgust. What should come next for Andrew Cuomo is a swift resignation, followed by a statewide investigation. In Cuomo tradition, the governor denied these aspirations; his father Mario also declined to seek the nomination in 1992. The truth, of course, was that Cuomo’s leadership, respectability, and strength was a veneer. Unlike the servers and bartenders he briefly barred from vaccination eligibility, Andrew Cuomo is not an essential worker.

Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol’s El Centro sector chief, told the Associated Press that surveillance footage taken before the early Tuesday wreck captured a Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Suburban drive through the breached fence. All those inside escaped and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The 1997 red Ford Expedition, which was jammed with 25 people, continued traveling before it was T-boned by a semi-truck hauling gravel a short time later, killing 13 inside. The opening in the border fence that the vehicles rolled through was about 30 miles east of the crash scene. Gregory Bull/APA California Highway Patrol report said the Expedition entered an intersection right in front of the big rig, which hit the left side of the SUV.

The debate comes as the Biden administration’s diplomacy on Iran has stalled. Meanwhile, U.S. personnel in Iraq have continued to come under rocket fire by militia groups, some of which have ties to Iran. “I remain clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to our interests and those of our allies,” Sherman said. ADSen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) probed Sherman on any contacts she had with Iranian officials during the Trump administration. ADThe decision by Sherman and other Biden officials to pledge to get a better deal, rather than defending the Obama accord on its own merits, has frustrated some on the left.

In her debut interview as a Fox News contributor, McEnany issued a lament about the criticisms that had come her way. ADADFor someone who bristles at being called a liar, perhaps McEnany should have thought twice before promoting the Big Lie. With its McEnany move, Fox News not only is overlooking McEnany’s Big Lie participation; it is also rewarding her with a job. ADADIn her interview with McEnany, Faulkner asked whether she thought Trump was responsible for the Capitol riots. But that’s what you get with McEnany: small dishonesties punctuated by the occasional Big Lie.

The decision by the estate of children’s book author Dr. Seuss to stop publishing six of his books due to the racist images they included. That story, which Fox News framed as Seuss having been “canceled,” was mentioned by the network more than 60 times. Instead, Trump just promised more of what won him the Republican nomination four years before: more broad placement of “America first” and more bashing of the left. Trump voters were consistently more likely to express concern about the diminished status and power of Whites in America. One study showed that concern about Whites losing out was a much better predictor of Trump support than economic insecurity.

Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany shared the story behind her "very tough" decision to have a double mastectomy in an exclusive interview on "The Faulkner Focus" Wednesday. The prognosis led her to undergo a preventative double mastectomy in 2018. "My mom got a double mastectomy ... it was a hard path, and it's one I knew I wanted to go down to keep myself from ever getting cancer," McEnany expressed. McEnany added that her decision was several years in the making and her husband, Sean Gilmartin, supported her unconditionally. FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KAYLEIGH MCENANY JOINS FOX NEWS FAMILYSince McEnany shared her story at the Republican National Convention in 2020, multiple women have reached out to her about her inspirational story.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday blamed President Biden’s "sweeping left-wing amnesty plan" for fueling the escalating migrant crisis on the southern border -- and said it sidelined the interests of American workers. "Just six weeks into unified Democratic government, we already have another crisis brewing on our southern border," McConnell said on the Senate floor. He said instead that the Department of Homeland Security is working to "replace the cruelty" of the Trump administration with "an orderly humane and safe immigration process." The big backdrop behind this whole discussion is the sweeping left-wing amnesty plan that the Biden Administration unveiled before they were even sworn in," McConnell said. TRUMP USES CPAC SPEECH TO TEAR INTO BIDEN ON BORDER CRISIS"It’s not fair to American citizens and workers," he said.

"The approval for Chief Sund's request would eventually come from the acting secretary of defense and be relayed to me by Army senior leaders at 5:08 p.m. — 3 hours and 19 minutes later," he said. Not 'good optics'National Guard Troops walk along the East plaza of the U.S. Capitol Building with the dome of the Capitol in the background on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. Ultimately, once D.C. National Guard troops arrived that evening, they helped re-establish the security perimeter on the east side of the Capitol to allow for the joint session of Congress resume in counting the Electoral College votes, he said. DC National Guard troops stand watch at the U.S. Capitol on January 08, 2021 in Washington, DC. Salesses said in his opening remarks that Miller "ordered the full mobilization" of the D.C. National Guard at 3:04 p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Department of Defense inspector general released a scathing report Wednesday on the conduct of Ronny Jackson, now a congressman from Texas, when he worked as a top White House physician. The report also said the investigation into Jackson “was limited in scope and unproductive” as Trump’s White House counsel insisted on being present at all interviews, which had a “potential chilling effect” on the probe. And witnesses said Jackson took sleep medication on long overseas travel, which left subordinates worried that it could have left him incapacitated and unable to work. After allegations emerged that Jackson had created a hostile work environment and improperly distributed prescription drugs, the White House withdrew the nomination. Jackson was well liked by most members of the Obama and Trump staffs and grew close to both presidents.

In addition to briefing Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Davidson met with other top officials and the new China task force, the person said. Lawmakers, who have been calling for a beefed up military presence in the region to deter China, like what they see so far. "I don't accept the premise that we have to spend more money on the military to adequately deter China." Like his predecessors, Austin will be challenged to turn the doctrinal shift into a boost for resources in the region. “I doubt we will see any major cuts in acquisition programs in this first budget request, but you never know.

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, then-White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson speaks to reporters during the daily press briefing at the White House, in Washington. The Department of Defense inspector general has released a scathing report on the conduct of Ronny Jackson, now a congressman from Texas, when he worked as a top White House physician. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, then-White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson speaks to reporters during the daily press briefing at the White House, in Washington. The Department of Defense inspector general has released a scathing report on the conduct of Ronny Jackson, now a congressman from Texas, when he worked as a top White House physician. After allegations emerged that Jackson had created a hostile work environment and improperly distributed prescription drugs, the White House withdrew the nomination.

On Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Let’s start with four key takeaways from Wray’s testimony. In reality, many people who commit acts of domestic terrorism are fueled by hate, not politics. Whatever the reason, here’s what Wray didn’t say: The act of domestic terrorism at the Capitol wasn’t a mysterious occurrence of spontaneous combustion. But until we name, shame and bring lawful accountability to Trump and his congressional co-conspirators, our domestic terrorism problem will remain, fester and possibly become even worse.

“The campaign has filed an amendment with the FEC to correct its campaign finance reports going back to 2018. In the 2016 cycle, before Donald Trump was elected, the Jordan campaign received a little over $733,000 and spent about $423,000, according to FEC records. But in 2020, they soared: he raked in $18.6 million and spent $13.2 million, and now sits on a $6 million stash. “FEC reports carry-forward financial information to subsequent reports,” he said. “The lack of a quorum of commissioners until the end of last year meant that FEC enforcement had stalled.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. (Mikhail Klimentyev / Sputnik )Throughout his campaign, President Biden vowed to take a harder line with Saudi Arabia. "It is undeniable that Saudi Arabia is a hugely influential country in the Arab world and beyond," Price told reporters Monday. In Crown Prince Mohammed, the Biden administration is dealing with a figure who began stirring up controversy even before Khashoggi's assassination. Saudi Arabia maintains that Tiger Squad operatives acted beyond their orders; eight of 11 suspects have been sentenced to jail time or death.

Parler may have voluntarily withdrawn its federal lawsuit against Amazon , but the company isn’t ready to give up its legal battle just yet. On the same day it dropped that previous suit, the company filed a new one against Amazon in a Washington state court, according to The Verge. Parler says it wouldn’t have signed up with Amazon if that provision hadn’t been in place. “Getting 30 days either to cure or find another host is absolutely essentially [sic] to avoid millions of dollars in damages and potentially irreparable harm.” It also alleges Amazon “tried to justify the repudiation based on allegations against Parler that it “knew were false.”Suit claims before AWS soured on Parler, Amazon knew Trump was considering joining Parler and that AWS was interesting in financing Parler as part of a "program for startups with high potential." — Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) March 3, 2021An Amazon Web Services spokesperson dismissed the lawsuit as meritless.

Signers of letter, called "Say No To Christian Nationalism," included Jerushah Duford, the granddaughter of the late Rev. "We've seen that those who embrace Christian nationalism are also more likely to believe in conspiracies." For some pastors, church climates in the last year have become too much to bear. Swieringa recently got a new part-time job pastoring at Kibbie Christian Reformed Church in South Haven, Mich., where masks are mandatory. But he noticed that the concerns about sex trafficking were more specific to a QAnon belief in "Democrat pedophilia."

AdvertisementOrdinarily, the ACA insurance marketplace is open mainly during an annual enrollment season — a six-week period near the end of the year during the Trump administration. Days after he was sworn into office in January, Biden directed health officials to reopen the federal online insurance marketplace until mid-May. Among other things, the package would increase subsidies — received by nearly 9 in 10 people who have ACA health plans — to help pay monthly insurance premiums. The insurance sold through federal and state ACA marketplaces is intended for Americans who cannot get affordable health benefits through a job. This week, health officials announced they were giving the navigators a relatively small extra amount, $2.3 million, for the rest of the extended sign-up time.

Elliot SpagatAssociated PressThirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among 44 people who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California's border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said on Wednesday. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. A California Highway Patrol report said the SUV entered an intersection directly in front of the big rig, which hit the left side of the SUV. The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph , according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

RELATED:Meet the Editorial Board of the USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinIn each case, we published editorials to promote discussion, encourage sound public policies and hold powerful politicians to account. We have no set schedule but write editorials as issues arise. The Ideas Lab is where we showcase our editorials, solutions-focused stories, and expert commentary and analysis on public policy. The Ideas Lab also publishes stories that offer additional context and insight to the news of the day. As always, if you have any questions about our editorials, the Ideas Lab — or anything else — please get in touch.

But perhaps the red-hot housing market in Palm Beach was just too tempting for the Trumps to sit on the sidelines. The listing also follows a January report that the bank that financed the brothers’ purchase in 2018 has decided not to do business with the Trump family any longer.

Associated PressSeattle – Parler, the right-wing friendly social network that was forced offline after supporters of then-President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, has filed a new lawsuit against Amazon. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Seattle tech giant’s cloud-computing division, stopped working with Parler in January over what Amazon said was Parler’s inability to moderate violent content of the kind that spurred supporters of Trump. Its original lawsuit, filed in January in Seattle’s federal district court, was billed primarily as an antitrust action, accusing Amazon of collaborating with Twitter to sink Parler’s business. Parler voluntarily dismissed that suit late Tuesday, an hour before a court-imposed deadline to file an amended complaint in the case. Parler has also argued in its new suit that the problematic content Amazon presented as a rationale for taking it off the web represented only a fraction of all posts and comments on Parler.

SEATTLE (AP) — Parler, the right-wing friendly social network that was forced offline after supporters of then-President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, has filed a new lawsuit against Amazon. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Seattle tech giant’s cloud-computing division, stopped working with Parler in January over what Amazon said was Parler’s inability to moderate violent content of the kind that spurred supporters of Trump. Parler went back online online two weeks ago, hosted by SkySilk, a Los Angeles-based cloud-computing outfit. The Seattle Times reports that Parler’s new lawsuit, filed late Tuesday in King County Superior Court, alleges a host of contractual offenses, as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices and defamation.

“Consequently, at 5:20pm (in under 20 minutes) the District of Columbia National Guard arrived at the Capitol,” Walker said. Mobilizing a large force of guard troops in a few hours amounts to lightning quickness in military terms, he emphasized. In his testimony, agreed with Capitol security officials that Pentagon leaders gave a tepid response to urgent pleas for aid during a 2:30 p.m. call on Jan. 6. Other officials who testified addressed the intelligence assessment that led Capitol security officials to dismiss the need for preemptive National Guard support. Never, those former Capitol security officials said, did they anticipate an organized, coordinated assault on the legislative branch that would overwhelm the 1,200 officers on-site and result in a breach of the building.

Donald Trump’s former senior adviser Stephen Miller has claimed that some adult undocumented immigrants are posing as teenagers and attending US high schools. Mr Miller spearheaded the former president’s immigration policies, such as child separation, which have been branded “cruel” by the new Biden administration. “You know what, some of those adults are going to end up in high schools around America – if they are open at all – pretending to be minors. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Trump’s supporters have referred to 4 March as “true Inauguration Day”, according to an internal security bulletin from Tuesday from from House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett, obtained by CBS News and other outlets. That security bulletin names a far-right militia, the “Three Percenters,” as posing a threat. The Democratic congressional aide suggested to The Independent that it’s no accident the SAA’s bulletin has leaked to the press.

Parler has dropped its antitrust lawsuit against Amazon for cutting off its web-hosting services but files a new case accusing the tech giant of defamation and breach of contract. At the time, Amazon said Parler had failed to adequately moderate content related to the attack, including calls to assassinate prominent Democratic politicians. The same day, Parler filed another suit against Amazon, accusing the Jeff Bezos-owned company of breach of contract and defamation, according to Fox Business. Parler also said Amazon never raised any concern over its content in the two years before it was ousted from its web-hosting services. Parler's domain name is now registered with Epik Inc., a website services company based in Sammamish, Washington, according to public records made available by internet regulator Icann.

It has not brought peace to Afghanistan and it will not bring peace to Afghanistan. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It’s been nearly two years since Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would appoint its first ambassador for women, peace and security. “I’m getting zero response.”Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada could appoint a special envoy to act as an observer at the talks with a mandate to uphold UN Security Council commitments to engage Afghan women in peace and security efforts.

After being badgered to death by moderate Senate Democrats, the Biden administration has agreed to put stricter limits on who will be eligible for a relief check as part of its big COVID recovery bill. On Wednesday, Democrats said they would phase down the checks more quickly for higher earners than originally planned. Married couples who file jointly will still receive their entire check if they make up to $150,000. But payments will fall to zilch for those earning more than $160,000, down from the previous threshold of $200,000. Unsurprisingly, progressive Democrats are not pleased about this (just check any Hill reporter’s mentions right now).

The bills introduced Tuesday in the House and Senate would extend current federal background check requirements to transactions conducted by unlicensed and private sellers. The gun safety group Giffords estimates that 22% of U.S. gun owners purchased their last firearm without completing a background check. Polling shows that more than 90% of Americans support a universal background check system. Last month, to mark the third anniversary of the Parkland shooting, Biden called for the passage of “common sense” gun safety laws. He cited a background checks bill among his top priorities.

It goes vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. I’m old enough to get it, and I’m smart enough to get it.” She also broke into song (naturally), replacing the word “Jolene” in one of her best-known choruses with “vaccine.” “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine,” she sang, embellishing the last one with her trademark Tennessee lilt. “I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate.” “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine,” she added, “because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.” Just before the doctor arrived to inoculate her — or “pop me in my arm,” as she put it — she doubled down on her message. He thanked Merck and Johnson & Johnson for “stepping up and being good corporate citizens during this crisis.” Noah Weiland contributed reporting. “We’ll reserve as much as we can for that," Mr. de Blasio said of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has released a biting report of the conduct of Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson during his tenure as White House physician in the Trump administration. The Defense Department inspector general, who released the report, said Jackson made "sexual and denigrating statements about one of his female medical subordinates to another of his subordinates." He served in the White House Medical Unit under both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush before being elevated to the top medical position by Obama in 2013. In 2011, he was promoted to director of the White House Medical Unit. Two years later, Jackson became physician to the president in the Obama White House.

The successful breach of the Capitol on the Jan. 6 siege could serve as inspiration for terrorists, a group of national security officials testifying before the Senate Wednesday agreed. “We do assess that the breach on the Capitol could inspire others to act,” Smislova told the Senate. A group of national security officials testifying before the Senate Wednesday agreed that the successful breach of the Capitol on the Jan. 6 siege could serve as inspiration for terrorists. Last week, Congress heard from the acting Capitol Police chief and the acting House sergeant-at-arms, as well as their predecessors who resigned in the wake of the riot. During the acting officials’ testimony, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman revealed that intelligence agencies have uncovered threats from far-right extremists to “blow up” the US Capitol when Biden delivers his first joint address to both houses of Congress.

A Baptist minister who came under fire for telling married women to “lose weight” and look less “butch” to please their husbands is now eating his words — and temporarily stepping aside. Pastor Stewart-Allen Clark of 1st General Baptist Church in Malden, Missouri, delivered an enthusiastic sermon on Sunday, which included advice specifically for the wives in his congregation. “Why is it so many times that women, after they get married, let themselves go?” he questioned. “Now, look, I’m not saying every woman can be the epic, the epic trophy wife of all time, like Melania Trump — I’m not saying that at all,” the pudgy pastor continued. Meanwhile, 1st General has since discontinued their social-media presence, removing all past content as well as their direct contact details.

Joe Exotic has hired a legal team that once worked the missing-husband case of his key rival, Carole Baskin — and they plan to use unaired footage from “Tiger King” to push for a new trial. Disappointed after failing to get a pardon from President Donald Trump, the reality star — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — confirmed Tuesday that he had hired Phillips & Hunt. “We are honored to announce that Joe has retained our firm,” his new attorney, John Phillips, said Tuesday in a video shared by the official Joe Exotic Twitter page. “We’re going to seek a new trial, and justice in the criminal and civil courts,” Philips said after flying to visit Maldonado-Passage at Fort Worth’s Federal Medical Center. “I became familiar with all things ‘Tiger King.’ For sure, I know there is material in there that will help him out,” Phillips said, without teasing possible revelations.

While similar rocket attacks have routinely been claimed by or blamed on Iran-backed militia groups, Washington is trying to blunt the tensions that soared between Washington and Tehran during President Donald Trump’s years in office. But we’re identifying who’s responsible, and we’ll make judgments from that point.”Western officials point to Biden’s response to rocket attacks on U.S. service personnel in Iraq last week as a case in point. ADADRecent attacks on U.S.-linked bases have been claimed by splinter groups that have announced themselves since the deaths of Soleimani and Muhandis. Although U.S. officials say that those groups are backed by Iran, the extent of Tehran’s control over individual attacks remains unclear. As night fell Wednesday, there was no claim of responsibility for the latest rocket attacks.

It did, however, elicit two contributions to the public’s understanding of more than Pallone’s and Doyle’s status as virtuosos of situational ethics. “This,” Turley said, “is the essence of a state media model. The downside of this is that bad actors can exploit the capabilities of digital media faster than better actors can correct the torrent of misinformation, or worse. Furthermore, the pandemic has, Bell says, accelerated malign developments by keeping people home and focused on nationally distributed news. The same might be said of the voters of California’s 18th and 9th, and New Jersey’s 6th and Pennsylvania’s 18th, congressional districts.

Media panic over the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida, being a "super spreader" coronavirus event didn't pan out, as officials announced Wednesday just a few dozen COVID-19 cases associated with the big game. "The Super Bowl was not a super-spreader," Super Bowl LV Host Committee head Rob Higgins said. Hillsborough County officials announced only 53 COVID-19 cases statewide were found to be associated with official Super Bowl events, according to The Tampa Bay Times. MEDIA PUNDITS SCOLD TAMPA 'SUPERSPREADER' SUPER BOWL CELEBRATION, DOLLY PARTON KNOCKED FOR ADThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first NFL team to win a Super Bowl played in their home stadium, routing the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7. "Tampa’s Maskless Super Bowl Celebration Leads To Super Spreader Fears," HuffPost wrote.

That strategy is going strong 43 days into his presidency as he still hasn’t held a press conference. White House press secretary Jen Psaki continues to avoid topics, vowing to "circle back," while mostly giving reporters the run-around. As long as President Joe is kept out of the limelight, he can’t generate too much controversy. Only this is the anti-Trump strategy that got Biden into the White House. It was headlined: "It's long past time for Joe Biden to start taking questions from the press."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., omitted a key detail on Wednesday while comparing the U.S. federal minimum wage to the wage paid to Danish McDonald’s workers. The New York congresswoman called the discussion around raising the federal minimum wage "utterly embarrassing" in a tweet published Tuesday night. There is one thing Ocasio-Cortez’s argument left out, though: Denmark doesn’t have a nationally mandated minimum wage. Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet came as Congress debates raising the federal minimum wage to $15. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., penned a joint op-ed published on FoxNews.com supporting a more modest minimum wage increase.

President Biden has been in office for 43 days without holding an official press conference and critics have taken notice. President Trump took 28 days to take questions from the press, while President Obama did it after only 21 days in office and President George W. Bush took 34 days. White House press secretary Jen Psaki recently said, "Not yet," when asked when Biden would hold his first press conference. CNN’s Jake Tapper tweeted that "Biden’s 15 most recent predecessors all held a formal solo press conference within 33 days of taking office." Whenever Biden’s address occurs, it would be the latest Joint Session address in decades.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden will wait to address a joint session of Congress until after Congress decides on the American Rescue Plan, his coronavirus relief package. Meanwhile, as for his first address to Congress, past presidents have traditionally given a speech to Congress during their first year in office, often in February. An address to a joint session of Congress is like a State of the Union, though it technically is not called that until the president's second year in office. Bush delivered one of the earliest addresses to a joint session, taking place on Feb. 9, 1989. Former President Barack Obama delivered his address on Feb. 24, 2009; former President George W. Bush delivered his on Feb. 27, 2001; and former President Bill Clinton delivered his on Feb. 17.

Potato Head doll as part of a “Potato Head” brand, rather than a “Mr. Conservatives may not like which market forces companies respond to, but in a free market, that's not their call. But in a less free market, they believe, maybe it could be. “Republicans, conservatives must … repeal Section 230 liability protections,” Trump told the crowd, to extended cheers. In a free market in which Twitter was making bad business decisions, users would punish it by switching to Parler or Gab.

Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a court hearing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada March 1, 2021. Trump’s alleged political interference and violation of her legal rights are among the reasons Meng’s lawyers argue that her extradition case should be thrown out. Ten days after Meng’s arrest, then-President Trump said in an interview with Reuters that he would intervene in the case to get a better trade deal with China. He also repeated that China’s arrest of Spavor and Kovrig was not linked to the Meng case. Meng’s case is scheduled to finish hearings in May.

REUTERS/Denis BalibouseWendy Sherman, who helped negotiate the international accord in 2015, promised a new approach to Iran at her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. Former Republican President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact in 2018. Sherman said she did not know what the administration’s ultimate Iran policy would be, but stressed that Biden was determined not to let Iran obtain a nuclear weapon. Menendez said while he supported the Biden administration’s decision to engage with Iran, any policy needed bipartisan support to succeed. She can be confirmed without Republican support, since Democrats control the Senate.

“In fact, the campaign’s cash balance is actually higher than previously listed on the campaign finance reports. In the 2016 cycle, before Donald Trump was elected, the Jordan campaign received a little over $733,000 and spent about $423,000, according to FEC records. But in 2020, they soared: he raked in $18.6 million and spent $13.2 million, and now sits on a $6 million stash. “FEC reports carry-forward financial information to subsequent reports,” he said. “The lack of a quorum of commissioners until the end of last year meant that FEC enforcement had stalled.

Ten rockets were fired at an Iraqi military base hosting U.S.-led coalition troops Wednesday, the latest in a series of rocket attacks in Iraq with this one just days before the pope is due to visit the country. Major Gen. Tahseen al-Khafaji of the Iraqi security forces told NBC News that there was no damage reported at the base. Wednesday’s rocket attack follows a U.S. airstrike last week in eastern Syria that killed one fighter in an Iranian-backed militia and wounded two others, according to the Pentagon. Story continuesNBC News has previously reported that Iranian-backed militias were most likely behind the Irbil rocket attack in February, and that the weapons and tactics resembled previous attacks by the Iranian-linked militias. However, it was unclear if Iran had encouraged or ordered the rocket attack.

Refinery29The next COVID relief bill is currently being negotiated in the Senate after passing the House late last Friday. The last relief bill passed in December, while Trump was still president. The relief bill before that was passed in late March 2020, and now we’re just a few days away from March 2021. The bad news, though, is that a key part of the relief bill — a $15 federal minimum wage hike — will likely not be included. A $15 minimum wage would be life-changing to so many Americans, and its exclusion from the next stimulus bill is an enormous disappointment.

A US soldier at the Taji base complex, which hosts Iraqi and US troops, in 2014. ALI AL-SAADI/AFP via Getty ImagesTen rockets struck a base hosting US forces in Iraq early Wednesday. Ten rockets hit an air base in Iraq hosting US-led coalition and Iraqi troops, officials in the country said. An Iraqi military source said the attack was launched from just west of the city Baghdadi, near the base. A February 16 rocket attack on a northern Iraqi air base, used by the US military, killed a civilian contractor and injured a US soldier.

National ReviewAt least ten rockets were launched at a coalition air base in western Iraq that hosts U.S. troops on Tuesday, less than a week after the Biden administration ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria. The attack targeted the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq’s Anbar province, according to coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto. An American civilian contractor died of a heart attack “while sheltering” from the assault, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. “The latest rocket attacks on U.S. & coalition troops is the work of Iran,” Rubio wrote on Twitter. “Iran makes the rockets, gives them to Shia militia groups and tells them where & when to attack.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has released a biting report of the conduct of Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson during his tenure as White House physician in the Trump administration. He served in the White House Medical Unit under both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush before being elevated to the top medical position by Obama in 2013. Who is Ronny Jackson? In 2011, he was promoted to director of the White House Medical Unit. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pentagon: Rep. Ronny Jackson harassed staff, used alcohol on duty

The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. HOLTVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among 44 people who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. A California Highway Patrol report said the SUV entered an intersection directly in front of the big rig, which hit the left side of the SUV. AdvertisementThe speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph (89 kph), according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

For two months, the Arizona Senate has been demanding that Maricopa County turn over the 2.1 million ballots cast in the November election. In January, Senate President Karen Fann issued a third subpoena ordering the county to deliver the ballots by Jan. 13. The standoff ended last week when Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ordered the county to comply with the Senate subpoena. Late Monday, a lawyer for the Senate asked Maricopa County to hold off on delivering the ballots. I’m just guessing here, but maybe it’s because the Senate subpoena demanded that the ballots be delivered to 1700 W. Washington, which is the address of the Senate?

A California Highway Patrol officer examines the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Hugo Castro leaves crosses at the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A law enforcement officer examines the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph (89 kph), according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

HOLTVILLE, Calif. — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among 44 people who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. A California Highway Patrol report said the SUV entered an intersection directly in front of the big rig, which hit the left side of the SUV. The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph (89 kph), according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats are poised to pass a sweeping elections and ethics bill, offering it up as a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country. “Our purpose was to remove ... obstacles of participation for Democrats or Republicans,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday on the House floor. The measure, which was all but certain to pass the House in a vote expected Wednesday, has been a priority for Democrats since they won their majority in 2018. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court appeared ready to uphold voting restrictions in Arizona, which could make it harder to challenge state election laws in the future. “Democrats want to use their razor-thin majority not to pass bills to earn voters’ trust, but to ensure they don’t lose more seats in the next election,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said from the House floor on Tuesday.

A life-saving COVID-19 treatment is available in South Florida for those newly diagnosed with the virus and at high risk. The problem is few people know about it, particularly hard-hit minorities. The antibody treatment includes the therapy given to President Trump when he got COVID.

HOLTVILLE, Calif. — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among 44 people who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. A California Highway Patrol report said the SUV entered an intersection directly in front of the big rig, which hit the left side of the SUV. The speed limit for tractor-trailers on the highway is 55 mph, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez.

“President Trump hasn’t made any decisions regarding a potential 2024 run, but the buried lede here is that the media can’t stop talking about him,” Trump adviser Jason Miller said. While Trump didn’t formally announce his candidacy at CPAC on Sunday, his first public appearance since leaving office on Jan. 20, he hinted at another bid. The former vice president is himself considered a top-tier potential candidate in 2024. A Harvard-Harris poll conducted Feb. 23-25 found that 42% of Republican voters preferred Trump as their 2024 nominee, compared to 18% for Pence, who placed second. Without Trump, Pence led the field with the support of 36% of Republican voters, followed by Texas Senator Ted Cruz at 13%.

The U.S. wants her extradited to face fraud charges. Her arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent China’s rise. The U.S. accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng, 49, committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company’s business dealings in Iran. Defense lawyer Richard Peck pointed to a 2018 interview in which Trump was asked if he would be willing to intervene in Meng’s case if it would help secure a trade deal with China or aid U.S. security interests.

Perceptions changed after Becerra was appointed California attorney general in 2017. “What I just see is his getting involved in way too many abortion cases,” said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America. Yes, the laws were bad in California, but he has an abortion agenda.”Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., echoed those views. As attorney general, "you spent an inordinate amount of time and effort suing pro-life organizations,” he said, questioning Becerra recently. Because I think the majority of the American people would not want their secretary of Health and Human Services focused or fixated on expanding abortion when we got all of these public health issues to deal with.”

Updated 5 times AlertMeHOLTVILLE, Calif. — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among more than 40 migrants who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. Border Patrol photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris. Seats in the SUV had been removed except for those for the driver and front passenger, said Omar Watson, chief of the California Highway Patrol’s border division.

A California Highway Patrol officer examines the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A California Highway Patrol officer examines the scene of a deadly crash in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)HOLTVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Thirteen people killed in one of the deadliest border crashes on record were among more than 40 migrants who entered the U.S. through a hole cut into Southern California’s border fence with Mexico, the Border Patrol said Wednesday. The Border Patrol said its agents were not pursuing the vehicle before the crash. Border Patrol photos show a panel of eight steel poles was lifted out and left on the ground in the desert next to an old tire and other debris.

Facebook will lift its ban on political advertising in the United States on Thursday, ending a four-month blockade that began just after November's contentious election. The ban was briefly lifted on December 15 for adverts relating to January's run-off election for Georgia's two US Senate seats, but re-imposed it afterwards. On Wednesday, Facebook said: "We’re resuming political, electoral and social issue ads in the United States on Thursday, March 4. The lifting of the ban was first revealed by Politico, which cited emails from Facebook to its political advertisers. Facebook's broad definition of "political" advertising in the US had also caught charities, campaigners and publishers of political books.

Dr. Anthony Fauci donated his personal 3-D model of the coronavirus to the Smithsonian National Museum of American on Tuesday as part of a ceremony honouring him with the museum’s Great Americans Medical. Mr Fauci, director of the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, chief medical adviser to the White House, and in many ways the public face of the public health response to Covid, called the award “extraordinary and humbling”. “This has been a terrible year in so many respects,” he said during a ceremony on Tuesday, which, owing to the pandemic, was done virtually. The collection for the show already includes a photo of a New York man wearing a ‘Fauci’ T-shirt. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent.

Ivanka Trump is on a serious workout kick - heading out for a session on the tennis courts days after being snapped on a run with her husband Jared Kushner in the scorching Miami heat. The 39-year-old First Daughter was pictured leaving her luxury Miami apartment in bright tennis whites on Wednesday morning, complete with a white baseball cap and sporty sneakers. Her matching tennis set featured subtle light blue detailing on both the top and bottom for a pop of color. Like Ivanka, Jared had on a face mask and a baseball cap, though his was light blue. It's been an active week for Ivanka and Jared, who were spotted running together in the scorching Miami heat on Saturday.

One witness recalled seeing Jackson drinking in the hotel lobby almost immediately after arriving in Manila. Witnesses 'observed RDML Jackson drink four to six alcoholic beverages in addition to what he already consumed before arriving,' according to the report. Jackson and two witnesses 'returned to their hotel where RDML Jackson and Manila Witness 1 planned to eat balut in RDML Jackson’s room. It said the investigation was hampered by the Trump administration which insisted interviews with White House Medical Unit staff could only be conducted in the presence of White House counsel. Prior to working as the White House physician Jackson also worked in the White House medical unit under the George W. Bush administration.

Attorneys for Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and the NAACP have served former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club with a lawsuit filed against him in February. Thompson and the NAACP filed suit against Trump alleging that his incendiary rhetoric and false claims of a “stolen” election amounted to a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights by inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Trump advisers did not immediately provide comment on who, if anyone, at this point is representing the former president for this lawsuit. When Trump was served, it was merely signed for by a “Ricky,” according to the court document. Johnson dismissed the suits against Campbell and Verizon but has appealed a federal judge’s dismissal of his suit against The Huffington Post.

Democrats on Wednesday were grumbling over the prospect of having to factor an additional 10 hours of floor time into passing the bill. Any senator can force a reading of a bill on the floor but the formality is almost always skipped by unanimous consent to avoid wasting time. A Republican senator said Johnson will force a reading of the Senate substitute, which will include several changes compared to the 630-page House passed-relief bill. First Black secretary of Senate sworn in Republican Ohio Senate candidate calls on GOP rep to resign over impeachment vote MORE (D-N.Y.). Democrats have removed both projects from the Senate version of the bill.

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel accused Iran on Wednesday of being linked to a recent oil spill off its shores that caused major ecological damage, calling the incident environmental terrorism. FILE PHOTO: A clump of tar is seen on the sand after an offshore oil spill drenched much of Israel's Mediterranean shoreline with tar, at a beach in Ashdod, southern Israel February 21, 2021. “Iran is (conducting) terrorism by damaging the environment, and (when) Iran is damaging the environment it isn’t just hurting the state of Israel,” Gamliel said. ECOLOGICAL DISASTERThe oil spill blackened beaches up and down the Israeli coast, and clumps of sticky black tar have washed up on the shores of south Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well. The ship tracking data did not show any destinations in Iran, though it is common for vessels to conceal their movements there.

India’s Muslim Journalists Are Under Attack India’s Muslim Journalists Are Under Attack As the mainstream media has consolidated behind the BJP, independent journalism in India has become a dangerous activity. Already underrepresented in mainstream media, Muslim journalists make for easy, conspicuous targets—as Khan and others like her realized last February. He was also asked to drop his pants for proof he wasn’t Muslim (Muslim men are circumcised), according to a report in the Telegraph. As of December 31, 2020, according to the International Federation of Journalists, India ranks fourth in the list of countries most dangerous for journalists , with eight journalists killed in 2020. For journalists, especially Muslim journalists, in the new India, this training may turn out to be as essential to their reporting.

Civil Liberties Matter Following 9/11, the extensive exploitation of relaxed civil liberties was used as a pretext to engage in egregious human rights abuses. Because of a street-fighting division of the Proud Boys, nuance is required in parsing the case of the organization. Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, getting a kick out of Chapman’s actions, invited Chapman to join the club. Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio claims that Chapman left in 2017 to form “his own thing.” He applied to rejoin in October 2020 but was rejected. What is very clear is that even if McInnes and his Proud Boys say they weren’t initially interested in the alt-right or street fighting, the street-fighting alt-right were very much interested in the Proud Boys.

Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! In exchange for establishing this third category, the gig-economy employers are dangling a carrot called sectoral bargaining. Such comparison are either disingenuous or ignorant—either way, accepting third-category status in exchange for sectoral bargaining would be a disaster for US workers. It took worker power to win the standards workers enjoy in every country that currently has sectoral bargaining. If national union leaders acquiesce to the creation of a third category of worker in exchange for sectoral bargaining, we can kiss collective bargaining good-bye and surrender to collective begging.

“Are you okay?” asked a friend and military spouse in the voicemail she left for me on the afternoon the mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol so violently. I listened to concerns that the far-right nationalist attack on the Capitol would, sooner or later, inspire violence against their own families. The Isolation of Military ServiceThere are about 2 million Americans who serve in the US military and 2.6 million more who are military spouses and dependents. Military spouses also care for children in mourning, temporarily or in some cases permanently, over the loss of a parent. And the military that’s been fighting those hopeless, bloody wars in distant lands for so long is on edge, too.

Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Subscribe to The Nation Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Less than a year ago, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was touted as the golden boy of American politics. But in order to make the claim that they are the more ethical party, Democrats have to first clean house, starting with Cuomo.

People hold posters of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, near the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, marking the two-year anniversary of his death, Oct. 2, 2020. His assassination angered both the local and then-News Guild President Bernie Lunzer, who demanded a formal investigation and sanctions. Biden released the report summary, but his inaction on sanctions against MBS upset the union all over again. Current News Guild President Jon Schleuss endorsed the statement. SPJ President Matthew Hall called the intelligence summary “too little, too late.”“Many Americans have now read—and all should read—the four-page declassified intelligence report on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi,” Hall added.

A worker packs a box of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine into a cooler for shipping from a facility in Shepherdsville, Ky., Monday, March 1, 2021. Biden credited the stepped-up timetable to his ongoing use of the Defense Production Act and the establishment of a partnership between two long-time corporate rivals, Merck and Johnson and Johnson. Biden said the country is in a “war” against the coronavirus, justifying his sweeping measures against it. “When we came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. First, the Republican governor of one huge state announces he will ignore the president’s pleas for caution and that he will end mask mandates and immediately open up his state entirely.

Major changesUnder the Equality Act, the meaning of “public accommodations” will be greatly expanded. The Equality Act would outlaw unequal treatment or harassment of all individuals that fall under any protected category where there are currently limitations. The Equality Act specifically names the RFRA and says it cannot be used as a pretext for discrimination against protected groups. Further, the Equality Act makes it so legislation protecting members of the LGBTQ community is permanently enshrined in federal law. The GOP fear narrativeAlthough the Republican Party has been seemingly turning in on itself with post-election internal divisions, its elected officials have remained united against the Equality Act.

Instigator turned investigator Sen. Josh Hawley, left, questions FBI Director Chris Wray at a Senate hearing on Tuesday. President Biden has directed his national intelligence director to work with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to gauge the threat from white supremacists. Wray said the number of domestic terrorism investigations has grown from 1,000 when he became FBI director in 2017 to 2,000 now. The number of arrests of white supremacists has tripled, he said. “Some of those people clearly came to Washington, we now know, with the plans and intentions to engage in the worst kind of violence we would consider domestic terrorism,” Wray said.

Cuomo was praised for his leadership by citizens and politicians alike. The United States’ shining example of crisis leadership has quickly begun to fall from grace. However, Cuomo’s rapid descent from patriotic hero to just another sleazy politician provides a lesson for the U.S. public: idolizing politicians is dangerous and foolish. Praising politicians for their basic competency shows them that we do not expect any meaningful change, and care more about optics than legislative progress. Fostering a cult of celebrity around politicians puts them above us, the people.

That’s where lipid nanoparticles, which are made of ingredients like cholesterol and harder-to-make specialty compounds like the ionizable cationic lipid, come in. Again, not every Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine candidate is built like those from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate as well as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine don’t rely on mRNA or lipid nanoparticles. Rather, experts told Recode the challenges in scaling up production of these necessary chemicals could be holding back vaccine production in general. But even as we continue to discover and resolve new hurdles in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, more challenges will surely lie ahead.

Joe Gagliese, co-founder and CEO of the influencer marketing and management company Viral Nation, has seen it a million times: “In the grand scheme of things, that’s not going to retire anybody. As often as brands reach out to the creators of viral videos, so too do the growing number of talent and influencer management companies. “I met an influencer through our talent agency who was on a 70/30 management company deal, with the management company taking 70 [percent]. The industry is becoming so big that now these little viral sensations happen all the time.”Attempting to turn one-hit wonders into viable careers is the bread and butter for some management companies. People already add their Venmo or PayPal to their social media bios; they make public their Amazon Wish Lists.

When the first woman came forward to report sexual harassment by New York Gov. In other words, if Cuomo is a test for Democrats, he’s unlikely to be the last one — or the hardest. And what Democrats do about Cuomo will be, to some degree, a test of how seriously they take sexual harassment allegations in an era when they’re in power. On the other hand, Cuomo was already damaged in the public eye when the most recent allegations came to light. But the allegations against Cuomo will be just one of many tests of Democrats’ values in the coming months and years.

They have tried to rationalize Biden becoming president in increasingly outrageous ways, claiming that Biden and Trump are working together and even that Trump and Biden somehow switched bodies. This is actually relevant to the conspiracy theory: QAnon believers argue that in ending the gold standard, Roosevelt transferred power to a group of shadowy foreign investors who have since been controlling the US government. The March 4 conspiracy theory has been spreading on both mainstream and alternative right-wing social media platforms alike. Many QAnon followers have also migrated to largely unmoderated social media platforms like Gab, MeWe, Telegram, CloutHub, Rumble, and Parler, which recently came back online. But individual QAnon followers have resorted to violence in the past, including Matthew Wright, who is serving an eight-year sentence for engaging in an armed standoff with police at the Hoover Dam.

If Biden and Trudeau are really serious about bilateral collaboration on climate change, the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline should be a starting point. The Keystone XL pipeline, briefly explainedThe Keystone XL pipeline became an almost perfect example of the various stakeholders — Native communities, climate activists, scientists, policymakers, farmers, landowners, and everyday citizens — engaging in the broader debate about climate change. Environmental groups took note of Indigenous opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. “The Keystone XL pipeline was never about any single pipeline. The first step in canceling Keystone XL for good is removing the existing Keystone pipeline infrastructure — which Biden and Trudeau could work together to make happen.

Yet Chung has reason to worry that Han’s understated performance is being overlooked: Hollywood has an unsettling history of ignoring Asian actors for awards, even if their projects are critically acclaimed. Last year, Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite became the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. But despite the film’s six nominations and four wins, its stellar all-Korean cast was snubbed, igniting a conversation about the movie industry’s long-standing disregard for Asian actors. Despite the odds, she became the only Asian American woman to win that award in the Globes’ 77-year history. Read: The double meaning of the American dreamAs more creators of color break through and tell different kinds of stories, Hollywood’s snubbing of Asian actors is becoming especially obvious and newly urgent.

Read: How a fake baby is bornI’m telling this story because I think it’s funny, but also because it illustrates a core problem with Birdwatch at this stage: There is no good reason for most people to volunteer to fact-check Twitter. A few of them have already been more than willing to give of their time. His idea was to distribute the responsibility for catching and cornering misinformation across the entire Twitter community. Regular users might be able to move faster than machines when misinformation popped up in their social circles. Coleman acknowledged that the notes contain “quite a variety of quality,” so far, and said that his team expected this.

The DC National Guard had 340 troops either deployed or ready to deploy to help DC police handle traffic around the city that day. Walker said he could have had 155 National Guard troops at the Capitol within 20 minutes of getting the order. For hours, crowds stormed the Capitol on live TV while National Guard troops waited for permission to deploy. Once the green light was given, National Guard troops arrived at the Capitol in 18 minutes, said Walker. Salesses did not address why that order was not passed on to the National Guard until 5:08 p.m.

International megatrial of coronavirus treatments is at a standstillScience 's COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation. The only global trial of potential COVID-19 treatments is languishing. “The Solidarity trial is now on pause,” he says. Hundreds of smaller studies of experimental COVID-19 therapies have not included enough patients to convincingly rule in or out any drugs. The Recovery trial also produced important results, including showing in June 2020 that the cheap steroid dexamethasone could cut deaths from COVID-19 by one-third.

During a lengthy interview on the podcast "WTF with Marc Maron," Allen dropped a comment about former President Donald Trump that drew quite a buzz on social media. While discussing his views about being a fiscal conservative and disliking the "we culture" of being told "we should do this, we should do that," Allen said, "Once I realized that the last president pissed people off, I kind of liked that. The 67-year-old comedian and actor, who grew up in Michigan, told Maron that his main issue is taxes, and he's essentially against how both political parties use them. "When I was watching that, I felt that the president should have been a stand-up guy and go there with his security and say, 'Hey, come on. No, no, no, no,'" the former "Home Improvement" star told EW.

It goes vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine. I’m old enough to get it, and I’m smart enough to get it.” She also broke into song (naturally), replacing the word “Jolene” in one of her best-known choruses with “vaccine.” “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine,” she sang, embellishing the last one with her trademark Tennessee lilt. “I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate.” “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine,” she added, “because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.” Just before the doctor arrived to inoculate her — or “pop me in my arm,” as she put it — she doubled down on her message. “This pilot plan will maximize the initial doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and get as many shots in arms as possible,” Mr. Cuomo said. “We’ll reserve as much as we can for that," Mr. de Blasio said of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Disruption from the pandemic has cost the renewable energy industry, which relies heavily on labor, about 450,000 jobs. To reach Biden’s 100 percent renewable energy goal will require a massive buildout of grid infrastructure to get energy from the windy plains or offshore wind farms over long distances to cities where electricity is needed. The wind power industry and clean energy advocates say the new administration can make the country an offshore wind power leader. Estimates of employment in the US clean energy sector range from about 700,000 to 3 million jobs. “Justice for disadvantaged communities and welcoming legacy energy workers into the clean power workforce are vital aspects of the success of the clean energy transition,” said Heather Zichal, chief executive officer of the American Clean Power Association.

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson made "sexual and denigrating" comments about a female subordinate and engaged in inappropriate use of alcohol while on two presidential trips during his time as the White House physician, according to a Pentagon inspector general report. Investigators interviewed 78 witnesses and reviewed White House documents to reach the conclusion that Jackson, R-Texas, failed to treat his subordinates on the White House Medical Unit staff with dignity and respect, the report said. "Three years ago I was the subject of a political hit job because I stood with President Trump," Jackson said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APPAllegations of misconduct first arose after Trump nominated Jackson to be Veteran's Affairs secretary in April 2018. The doctor withdrew from the running after the Pentagon inspector general began investigating allegations of workplace misconduct, such as alcohol abuse and mishandling prescription drugs.

Capitol Police acting Chief Yogananda Pittman testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday that threats to members of Congress have increased by 93.5% within the first two months of 2021, compared to the same time period last year. "This was abundantly clear on January 6, 2021, when insurrectionists attempted to prevent the Congress from certifying the 2020 Electoral College results by storming the U.S. U.S. Capitol Police was forced to reevaluate its budget justification for the 2022 fiscal year following the events of Jan. 6, Pittman said. Meanwhile, U.S. Capitol Police said Wednesday it "obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4." The department "is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex," the statement said.

Some believers of the QAnon conspiracy theory think that former President Trump will become president again on March 4th. CNN's Sara Sidner explains the origin of that belief.

In his first public remarks since President Joe Biden’s inauguration, former Vice President Mike Pence is pushing falsehoods about election security in an op-ed he authored for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Of particular ire to Pence is Democrats’ first major bill of the 116th Congress, the For The People Act. Trump and his allies filed more than 60 election lawsuits seeking to overturn the election results on that basis. An inquiry by Trump’s Justice Department also concluded there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election. Pence briefly referred to that day in his op-ed, describing it as “tragic.” He failed to acknowledge that members of the mob were chanting “hang Mike Pence” as they roamed the Capitol Building, apparently looking for him to violently persuade him not to certify the results of the 2020 election.

| Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works Meet the woman ready to come out of Cuomo’s shadow New York Lt. Gov. And now, as the number of Democrats calling for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation seems to tick up every few hours, Hochul could soon become the second recent lieutenant governor to assume the state’s top post because of an incumbent's sexual misdeeds. The lieutenant governor has said little about the accusations against the governor, who is accused of sexually harassing two former staff members. But it’s a role she’s fiercely defended.

“‘The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,’ the agency said in a statement. Emmer, a longtime Trump supporter, wouldn’t go as far as to tell the head of his party to butt out completely, but his intentions were clear. Emmer has officially become the first member of Republican leadership to publicly caution Trump against acting out on his thirst for revenge. …“Senate Democrats need all 50 of their members to kick off consideration of the bill, a vote expected on Wednesday afternoon. 1125 South Ocean Blvd.” With picsWHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Reggie Greer has been appointed director of priority placement at PPO and senior adviser on LGBTQ issues at the White House.

New data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows a historic drop in inspections performed by the agency while the coronavirus spread. OSHA conducted 21,674 inspections between October 2019 and September 2020, down from 33,393 the previous fiscal year. Debbie Berkowitz, a workplace safety expert at the National Employment Law Project, said in an email that the number of inspections carried out in fiscal year 2020 was the lowest on record going back at least two decades. They should have done at least 12,000 more inspections.” The Trump administration took withering criticism for its ?abysmal response to the workplace hazards posed by the virus. Employers tend to fix hazards more quickly when OSHA performs inspections onsite.

Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's victory. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, rioters storm the Capitol, in Washington. Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's victory. Police were ill prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. “We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4.” Police did not identify the militia group in the statement.

Former CIA director John Brennan arrive at a closed hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee May 16, 2018 on Capitol Hill. (Getty Images)Former CIA boss John Brennan said on MSNBC that he's "increasingly embarrassed" to be a white man considering the actions he saw during CPAC. Mr Brennan said: “I’m increasingly embarrassed to be a white male these days with what I see other white males say." These are all people that think they have a huge grievance from a position of significant privilege." New York Times justice correspondent Katie Benner said: "I think what we're seeing right now is a trade-off between national security and power, the amassing of power.

Oak Flat sits atop one of the largest untapped copper deposits in the world, estimated to be worth more than $1bn. Oak Flat sits atop one of the largest untapped copper deposits in the world, estimated to be worth more than $1bn. While tribes and environmental groups celebrated the Forest Service announcement, they noted the threat of losing Oak Flat remains. “The Forest Service is just changing the execution date.” The Oak Flat campground outside of Globe, Arizona. The bill calls for the repeal of the land exchange legislation and was previously co-sponsored in the Senate by Bernie Sanders.

Social media company Parler dropped its antitrust lawsuit and filed a separate suit against Amazon and Amazon Web Services this week, alleging breach of contract and defamation. Parler moved to voluntarily dismiss that suit, according to a filing reported by The Verge. In late January, a judge ruled against Parler’s request to force Amazon to restore the company to its web hosting services. Parler's suit alleged Amazon said Parler was “okay” regarding any “problematic” content on its site just two days before Amazon announced the company’s removal. Amazon Web Services had known Parler used a “reactive system to deal with problematic content – and not once had AWS said that such a system was insufficient or in violation of the parties’ contract," it said.

It relates to sexually suggestive comments and inappropriate conduct he allegedly directed toward women, two of whom worked for him. Cuomo’s bullying is well known, and sexual harassment allegations made several months ago by one of the women were essentially ignored . One former top staffer, Lindsey Boylan, tweeted back in December that Cuomo sexually harassed her for years. In the 2016 election, Americans elected Donald Trump as president despite multiple accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct. The sexual harassment allegations can help make that happen.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, Tim Allen tried not to say too much about politics, aware that his conservative views could make him a target. '”Then Allen said: “Once I realized that the last president pissed people off, I kind of liked that. Tim Allen… "Once I realized that [Trump] pissed people off, I kind of liked that. ? Tim Allen — Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) March 3, 2021Tim Allen, a grown man, says he likes Trump because Trump upset so many people Allen felt deserved upsetting. Allen ended up attending Trump’s inauguration, leading Entertainment Weekly to ask if he had become “a Trump fan.”Allen was reluctant to go there.

It is, instead, about the way in which stated concerns about "cancel culture" can serve as Spackle for frustrations over a changing world. And this being March 2021, one response was obvious and immediate: Wow, they're canceling Dr. Seuss! No one is "canceling" Dr. Seuss, a phrasing by now so detached from reality that it doesn't even make any sense. It's not that some Dr. Seuss books are being taken out of rotation. The fight against "cancel culture" is now a mainstay of Republican rhetoric because it extends that complaint.

Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. The hourslong delay cost the National Guard precious minutes in the early hours of the rioting. Much of the focus on Wednesday’s Senate hearing centered on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund was pleading with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are launching investigations into mistakes made on Jan. 6.

A US contractor died of cardiac failure after rocket fire hit an Iraqi base hosting American-led troops on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, two days before Pope Francis’ visit to the country. Iraqi security forces were on the scene and investigating, but it was too early to attribute responsibility, it said. Col Wayne Marotto, a spokesman for the US-led forces, said 10 rockets had hit the base at 7:20 am . Iraqi security forces said they had found the platform from which the “Grad-type rockets” had been fired. More rockets hit a US military contracting company working north of the capital and the US embassy in Baghdad days later, but only injuries were reported.

Federal authorities on Wednesday warned that people associated with identified militia groups have been discussing plans for another to attack on the US Capitol with the aim of removing Democratic politicians on or about 4 March. The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Capitol police department has obtained intelligence pointing to a possible plot to “breach the Capitol by an identified militia group” on Thursday, the agency said on Wednesday. The Capitol police statement noted that it had already made “significant security upgrades” at the Capitol. The FBI has warned of extremist online “chatter” about attacking the Capitol on 4 or 6 March. House security are no longer anticipating protests or violence from groups traveling to Washington on Thursday, the sergeant, Timothy Blodgen, reported.

Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at Oklahoma’s decision to spend $2m on hydroxychloroquine, only for the drug to be dismissed by the World Health Organisation as a means to prevent Covid-19. The late-night host broached the topic on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. He started out by discussing a WHO expert panel which said on Tuesday that hydroxychloroquine should not be used in the prevention of Covid-19. Read our privacy notice Independent Culture Newsletter The best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week Thanks for signing up to the Independent Culture newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy noticeThe host then joked that the Oklahoma board of tourism “is trying to make it some kind of selling point”.

Mr Trump later nominated him to be his Veterans Affairs secretary, but Mr Jackson withdrew his name amid allegations that he created a hostile work environment, drank on the job and handed out prescription drugs like "they were candy".

Police have ramped up security around the US Capitol after uncovering a "possible plot" to storm the building for a second time. Far-right conspiracy theorists have claimed for weeks, without evidence, that former US President Donald Trump will be reinstated on March 4. "We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4," Capitol Police said in a statement on Wednesday. QAnon followers believed that Trump would not leave office on January 20, but instead would announce mass arrests of Democrats and stop Joe Biden from becoming President. A number of individuals believed to be QAnon followers have been charged for their alleged involvement in the deadly insurrection on January 6.

Will Smith spoke about his experiences with racism in a new podcast interview, revealing that despite being a Hollywood actor he was not immune from targeted aggression. The 52-year-old Men In Black star shared on Pod Save America Monday that he has been called 'the N-word' a handful of times in his life, but had always equated it with levels of intelligence. 'I've been called the N-word to my face probably five or six times. Fortunately for my psyche I've never been called N-word by a smart person,' he shared, before elaborating that he has found that 'less true' as he has gotten older. When it comes to his career in Hollywood, Smith has spoken in the past about not letting racism get 'power' over him.

"Rather than serving as a champion of democratic practice and a counterweight to authoritarian influence from countries such as China, Modi and his party are tragically driving India itself toward authoritarianism," Freedom House said in its annual report. Freedom House also pointed to the "ham-fisted" Covid-19 lockdown ordered by Modi in which massive numbers of workers who lacked resources were obliged to walk across the country to their villages. "The ruling Hindu nationalist movement also encouraged the scapegoating of Muslims, who were disproportionately blamed for the spread of the virus and faced attacks by vigilante mobs," it said. The United States remained classified as free following Donald Trump's turbulent presidency but Freedom House warned of the "parlous state of US democracy." Freedom House also highlighted the Trump administration's dismissal of inspector generals tasked with looking out for government misconduct as well as "disproportionate violence by police" against anti-racism protesters last year.

"Every individual is empowered to do the right thing here regardless of what the states decide... "The president is 100 percent behind Doctor Walensky and the CDC's recommendations," White House coronavirus advisor Andy Slavitt said, speaking after Walensky at a coronavirus briefing. It is now time to open Texas 100 percent," he said to cheers from his audience. On Tuesday Biden announced that the United States will have enough Covid-19 vaccines for its adult population by the end of May -- two months earlier than his last forecast. He also unveiled a major deal for pharma giant Merck to produce the vaccine shot developed by its rival Johnson & Johnson.

“We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4,” the US Capitol police said in a statement on Wednesday. That security bulletin names the far-right militia the “Three Percenters” as posing a threat. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing with Capitol security officials last week, Senator Angus King highlighted the dilemma facing members and those responsible for their safety.

A treasure trove of mineralsEach year, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or BWCA for short, attracts over 155,000 visitors. The second mining company, Twin Metals Minnesota, has proposed mining an area just a few miles from Ely, boasting it would create “750 direct jobs and 1,500 spinoff jobs in the community”. But the Twin Metals plan has created a rift in the community as well. Twin Metals Minnesota can now bring prosperity back to the families of the region,” the company added. We pay good wages and have benefits and I think we’re competitive with what might be potential mining jobs.

The conservatism that was seemingly agreed upon by the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute and National Review was not the conservatism that Mr. Trump sold to the American people. Mr. Trump campaigned on a self-serving redefinition of what it even means to be conservative and won. While populist nationalism exists, its existence does not depend on any one individual. What Mr. Trump was for was Donald Trump, and what Trumpism is, is Donald Trump. Put another way: Had Mr. Trump run for the presidency as a “severely conservative” nominee, he probably would have won the nomination just the same.

Parler has dropped the antitrust lawsuit it brought against Amazon after the tech titan booted the right-wing social network from its servers. The move forced Parler offline for about a month until it found a new host for its website. The Nevada-based firm came out with guns blazing in response, accusing Amazon in its lawsuit of silencing Parler to protect Twitter — another AWS customer that had banned Trump days earlier — from a growing rival. Parler walked away from the court battle following a period of internal turmoil. Neither Parler nor Amazon immediately responded to requests for comment Wednesday.

Michael Cohen, the now-disbarred attorney who served as former President Donald Trump’s go-to lawyer before turning state’s evidence, received his coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday. But Cohen said that by Wednesday, the process was smooth as silk. “It was flawless,” Cohen told The Post by phone. Michael Cohen said he qualified due to unspecified “health morbidities.”Once seen as Trump’s legal fixer, the pair’s relationship soured after Cohen implicated Trump while separately pleading guilty to lying during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation on Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election. Michael Cohen, the now-disbarred attorney who served as former President Donald Trump’s lawyer.

CNN's tone on school reopening appears to have taken a different tone with President Biden leading the call for it, instead of former President Trump. Drew Holden, a conservative commentator, noted Biden was quoted in September by the CNN Politics account demanding Trump negotiate a deal for emergency school funding. CNN's Chris Cillizza wrote the same month on the "very clear dangers" of Trump trying to reopen schools. "'Normally, people don't play with kids' lives': Trump's push to reopen schools becomes another partisan fight," CNN wrote in another July news story. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last summer it would work with every school district to create safe environments for school reopening.

The aide whose wedding reception was the venue that led to a sexual-harassment allegation against Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaving the state’s COVID-19 task force, he said Wednesday. CUOMO SPEAKS AS NY LAWMAKERS CALL FOR RESIGNATION, IMPEACHMENT OVER SCANDALSThe move came just days after Anna Ruch, 33, became the third woman to accuse Cuomo, 63, of sexual harassment. It also came shortly before Cuomo was expected to hold his first news conference since the scandal erupted last week. Rhodes has regularly been among the Cuomo administration officials to join the governor at his briefings.

EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans on the Border Security Caucus are requesting a briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the escalating crisis at the southern border, and warning that Biden administration policies are fueling it -- days after Mayorkas denied that there was a crisis at all. Reps. Andy Biggs and Brian Babin, who are the heads of the Congressional Border Security Caucus, wrote to Mayorkas requesting a briefing on the administration’s plans to address what they see as a crisis. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been releasing migrants into the interior -- a practice ended by the Trump administration. REP. BIGGS, CO-CHAIR OF BORDER SECURITY CAUCUS, SAYS ISSUE IS UNITING CONSERVATIVESBut Mayorkas on Monday denied there was a crisis at all, instead describing it as a "challenge for the government, non-governmental organizations and border communities. The lawmakers request a meeting in-person with Mayorkas "as soon as possible to discuss the growing crisis at the southern border."

The fracturing MAGA base is big trouble for the former president — and an opportunity for Trump proteges like Florida Gov. And while CPAC attendees may represent an extreme fringe of the GOP, that fringe tracks with the broader party mood. And Trump’s declining popularity indicates that what Republican voters find unpalatable is Trump himself. With the votes to pass any legislation they want, DeSantis and Florida Republicans can credibly claim to be a more effective, less distracting version of Trump. Trump will remain a vengeful voice within the GOP even if he forgos a third campaign for the White House.

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Wednesday her office will formally investigate war crimes in the Palestinian Territories, a move welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and denounced by Israel. She named both the Israel Defense Forces and armed Palestinian groups such as Hamas as possible perpetrators. The next step will be to determine whether Israel or Palestinian authorities have investigations themselves and to assess those efforts. “We welcome the ICC decision to investigate Israeli occupation war crimes against our people. It is a step forward on the path of achieving justice,” said Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The police force that guards the U.S. Capitol said on Wednesday it has obtained intelligence pointing to a possible plot by a militia group to breach the building on Thursday, an alleged plan with echoes of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. “The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” it said in its statement. On Tuesday, Acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett notified members of Congress of a possible security threat spanning Thursday through Saturday. Since Jan. 6, National Guard troops have been dispatched to the Capitol grounds and tall fencing has been erected to extend the security perimeter of the Capitol. Blodgett told lawmakers that the Capitol Police department has “enhanced” its security posture for the coming days.

The bulletin, titled "National Capital Region Remains Attractive Target for Domestic Violent Extremists," warned that "Domestic Violent Extremists" or "Militia Violent Extremists" were emboldened by the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and therefore pose a higher overall threat. The bulletin said the militia violent extremists may "exploit public gatherings either formally organized or spontaneous to engage in violence," according to the description of the document. It also states that domestic violent extremists have a continued "perception of election fraud and other conspiracy theories associated with the presidential transition, which may contribute to (Domestic Violent Extremists) mobilizing to violence with little or no warning." The law enforcement official said the bulletin makes clear that "the threat did not begin or end on January 6." NBC News reported Tuesday that law enforcement agencies around Washington, D.C., were adding extra security out of concern of potential unrest.

When the woman woke up and answered the door, Jackson told her, "I need you," according to the Pentagon report. After another staff member also came into the hallway, the report adds, Jackson insisted they all go to his hotel room. The Pentagon report was sparked by a raft of allegations that surfaced in 2018, when Trump nominated Jackson to be secretary of Veterans Affairs. The accusations led to today's Pentagon report — but they did not halt Jackson's political career: the Republican was elected to Congress last November, representing a district in the Texas Panhandle. As it issued its findings, the Pentagon inspector general's office cautioned that it had been prevented from handling the case as it normally would, citing interference from the White House.

Capitol Police Warns Of Another Possible Right-Wing Attack On CongressEnlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/APThe U.S. Capitol Police says that it is aware of a threat by an unidentified militia group to breach the Capitol complex on Thursday. March 4 is a significant date for far-right conspiracy theorists who believe former President Donald Trump will return to power then. That was the original date for presidential inaugurations until 1937, after the adoption of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The threat comes nearly two months after extremist Trump supporters broke into the Capitol — forcing lawmakers and the vice president to flee moments ahead of an angry mob. Capitol Police was "aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex," it said.

AxiosIn some of his most extensive remarks since Jan. 6, former Vice President Mike Pence wrote an op-ed Wednesday condemning House Democrats' sweeping election and anti-corruption proposal as an "unconstitutional power grab" by "leftists. Subscribe for free.The big picture: Writing in The Daily Signal, Pence repeated dubious claims that the 2020 election was "marked by significant voting irregularities. "Leftists not only want you powerless at the ballot box," wrote the former vice president, "they want to silence and censor anyone who would dare to criticize their unconstitutional power grab. He wrote that the bill "mandates the most questionable and abuse-prone election rules nationwide, while banning commonsense measures to detect, deter, and prosecute election fraud. "Go deeper: Democrats' sweeping reform bill Like this article?

The White House has signed off on a proposal from centrist Democrats in Congress to reduce the number of people receiving the next round of checks, per multiple reports. President Biden speaks at the White House on Tuesday. According to reports, the White House refused to lower the payments from $400 per week to $300 per week, as requested by moderate lawmakers. The White House counters that the $1,400 checks included in its current package comes out to $2,000 when it is added to the $600 checks passed by the last Congress in December. The survey also found that 58 percent supported raising the minimum wage — a provision that has been stripped from the current relief package, to the chagrin of progressives — compared with 31 percent who opposed doing so.

Walker said he received Sund’s call for aid at 1:49 p.m. and raced to send the request to senior Pentagon officials. “Consequently, at 5:20pm (in under 20 minutes) the District of Columbia National Guard arrived at the Capitol,” Walker wrote. Flynn is the brother of former Trump national security adviser MIchael Flynn — a leading proponent for overturning the results of the election. Instead of seeking a robust National Guard presence in advance, those former Capitol security officials said they asked Walker to simply be ready should they need him. Also at issue is the intelligence assessment that led Capitol security officials to dismiss the need for preemptive National Guard support.

Megan Varner/Getty ImagesMike Pence criticized the Democratic HR 1 voting reform bill as "unconstitutional power grab." Pence says that "election reform must be undertaken at the state level." The former vice president is slowly emerging back into the political world. Former Vice President Mike Pence came out swinging on Wednesday, writing an op-ed that criticized House Democrats' sweeping election reform bill as "unconstitutional power grab." "Election reform is a national imperative, but under our Constitution, election reform must be undertaken at the state level," he wrote.

“We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4,” the US Capitol police said in a statement on Wednesday. That security bulletin names the far-right militia the “Three Percenters” as posing a threat. The vague but ongoing threats of violence underscore the difficult decisions confronting officials at the Capitol for balancing security, government transparency, and patriotic tourism. At a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing with Capitol security officials last week, Senator Angus King highlighted the dilemma facing members and those responsible for their safety. We want security, but I would hate to see the US Capitol turned into a fortress.”Read MoreWhite supremacists on par with Isis as ‘top threat,’ FBI director says at Capitol riot hearingFive key takeaways from FBI director Wray’s grilling at Capitol riot hearingFeds oppose release of Arizona man who wore horns in riotThe Latest: FBI chief calls Capitol riot domestic terrorismFBI chief to face questions on extremism, Capitol riot

A Georgia couple’s night at the movies was soured after they returned to find an anti-Asian slur scrawled across their car. Got in the car,” Bounphengsy told FOX 5 of the Feb. 26 incident. “I don’t have problems with nobody, my husband doesn’t have problems with nobody,” Siharath told WGCL-TV. Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks hate crimes against Asian American Pacific Islander communities, said it received over 2,800 reports of hate incidents between mid-March and December 2020. Anyone with information on the incident in Suwanee is asked to contact the police department at 770-904-7627.

National Guard troops assemble outside of the U.S. Capitol on January 16, 2021 in Washington, DC Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty ImagesThe DC National Guard commander says that the Pentagon dragged its feet responding to the Capitol riot. He said he did not receive approval to deploy troops to the Capitol until almost 3 hours after an initial request. The commander of the DC National Guard said Wednesday that it took military leaders in former President Donald Trump's Pentagon three hours from the time Capitol Police called for backup to tell him to send in troops to respond to the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesWalker said that he immediately relayed the request for National Guard support to senior Army leadership and quickly readied available forces. He did not get approval to deploy Guard troops from Army leadership until 5:08 pm, hours after the violent mob had breached the Capitol.

Nearly two months after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building, officials are warning a militia group may be plotting another breach. The U.S. Capitol Police said Wednesday it has obtained intelligence "that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group" on March 4. "Our department is working with our local, state, and federal partners to stop any threats to the Capitol," Capitol Police said. Officials previously said they would "enhance our security posture and staffing for a number of days, to include March 4," due to "concerning information and intelligence" surrounding that date, ABC News reports. Because of this, Pittman said it's necessary for Capitol Police to "maintain its enhanced and robust security posture," including fencing and National Guard presence.

Oscar Health shares dropped in their first day of trading. Shares of Oscar Health (OSCR) - Get Report dropped in Wednesday trading, having debuted at $36 a share, which was below the company's revised expectations. On Tuesday, Oscar Health said it expected to sell 30.35 million Class A common shares at $36 to $38 each. Oscar Health had 529,000 members as of January 2021. Joshua Kushner, the brother of former Trump administration adviser Jared Kushner, has 75% control of Oscar Health through his Thrive Capital venture firm.

Police were ill prepared for the mass of Trump supporters in tactical gear, some armed, and it took hours for National Guard reinforcements to come. WASHINGTON (AP) — Capitol Police say they have uncovered intelligence of a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, nearly two months after a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the iconic building to try to stop Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden’s victory. “The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” the agency said in a statement. “We have obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday, March 4.” Police did not identify the militia group in the statement. He was impeached by the House after the Jan. 6 riot on a c harge of incitement of insurrection but was acquitted by the Senate.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s pick for health secretary is taking heat from Republicans for his actions in support of abortion rights. It’s a test, too, for national groups opposed to abortion, trying to deny a president who favors abortion rights his choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Becerra is paying a price for defending, as California attorney general, some of the nation’s most liberal laws and policies on abortion rights. Becerra, 63, was a reliable Democratic vote for abortion rights during more than 20 years representing a Los Angeles-area district in the U.S. House. She disagrees with his support for abortion rights, but finds common ground elsewhere.

Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol. That delay stood in contrast to the immediate approval for National Guard support granted in response to the civil unrest that roiled American cities last spring as an outgrowth of racial justice protests, Walker said. As local officials pleaded for help, Army officials raised concerns about the optics of a substantial National Guard presence at the Capitol, he said. Senators were eager to grill officials from the Pentagon, the National Guard and the Justice and Homeland Security departments about their preparations for that day. The hearing comes as thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol and as multiple committees across Congress are launching investigations into mistakes made on Jan. 6.

The COVID-19 relief measure Senate Democrats planned to unveil will also retain the $400 weekly emergency jobless benefits that were included in a House-approved version of the legislation, the official said. The Senate bill was expected to largely mirror the House-approved package, with the most glaring divergence the Senate’s dropping of language boosting the federal minimum wage to $15 hourly. Democrats’ push to include it in later legislation suggested an effort to satisfy progressives while avoiding jeopardizing the current package. Progressives, though, were still smarting over the virtual certainty that the Senate bill will lack the minimum wage boost, up from $7.25 hourly locked in since 2009. Opposition by moderates including Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has left Democrats without the votes needed to salvage it.

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing there is a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The revelation was detailed in a statement from the Capitol Police. It comes at the same time the acting police chief is testifying before a House subcommittee. So far, about 300 people have been charged with federal crimes for their roles in the riot. Many of the accounts that helped promote and organize the Jan. 6 riots on platforms like Facebook and Twitter have since been suspended, making it more difficult for the groups to organize.

Michael BalsamoAssociated PressWashington – The U.S. Capitol Police say they have intelligence showing there is a “possible plot” by a militia group to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. The revelation was detailed in a statement from the Capitol Police. “The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats towards members of Congress or towards the Capitol complex,” the agency said in a statement. Capitol Police say that they have stepped up security around the Capitol complex since January’s insurrection, adding physical security measures such as the fencing topped with razor wire around the Capitol and members of the National Guard who remain at the complex. The statement said the agency was “taking the intelligence seriously” but provided no other specific details on the threat.

MIAMI (AP) — A voting technology company is suing Fox News, three of its hosts and two former lawyers for former President Donald Trump — Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell — for $2.7 billion, charging that the defendants conspired to spread false claims that the company helped “steal” the U.S. presidential election. On Jan. 25, a rival election-technology company — Dominion Voting Systems, which was also ensnared in Trump's baseless effort to overturn the election — sued Guiliani and Powell for $1.3 billion. Unlike Dominion, whose technology was used in 24 states, Smartmatic's participation in the 2020 election was restricted to Los Angeles County, which votes heavily Democratic. Smartmatic's limited role notwithstanding, Fox aired at least 13 reports falsely stating or implying the company had stolen the 2020 vote in cahoots with Venezuela's socialist government, according to the complaint. This alleged “disinformation campaign” continued even after then-Attorney General William Barr said the Department of Justice could find no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

MIAMI — A voting technology company is suing Fox News, three of its hosts and two former lawyers for former President Donald Trump — Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell — for $2.7 billion, charging that the defendants conspired to spread false claims that the company helped “steal” the U.S. presidential election. The 285-page complaint filed Thursday in New York state court by Florida-based Smartmatic USA is one of the largest libel suits ever undertaken. On Jan. 25, a rival election-technology company — Dominion Voting Systems, which wasalso ensnared in Trump’s baseless effort to overturn the election — sued Guiliani and Powell for $1.3 billion. Unlike Dominion, whose technology was used in 24 states, Smartmatic’s participation in the 2020 election was restricted to Los Angeles County, which votes heavily Democratic.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban relented Wednesday and the national anthem will be played before home games this season after the NBA reiterated its “longstanding league policy” to include the song. Most teams don't have fans at home games. But the NBA abruptly reversed course with Cuban's decision reverberating around the country, including a question put to White House press secretary Jen Psaki during her daily briefing. Athlete protests of social and racial injustice during the “The Star-Spangled Banner” became a flashpoint between then-President Donald Trump and various leagues during his administration. “With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy,” the league said.

Jim Inhofe and James Lankford, both Republicans, voted against allowing the Senate to hold the trial of Trump. Lankford said, “You cannot vote to remove someone from office who is not even in office. This is nonsense and sets a terrible precedent for the future. In Trump’s case, “it’s impossible to remove someone from office when he is already gone,” Lankford said. “This impeachment trial is clearly unconstitutional.”

WASHINGTON – The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins Tuesday with a debate over whether the proceeding is constitutional because Trump is no longer in office. The debate marks the beginning of a historic trial, not only because Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, but because he stands trial after he left office. The House impeached Trump nearly a month ago, charging him with inciting the deadly riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Senate leaders set aside four hours Tuesday to hear both sides debate the constitutional argument raised by Trump and Republicans. Follow live coverage of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump here.

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial closed on Saturday with an overwhelming party-line vote to acquit Trump, after the trial was thrown for a loop in the morning with confusion over potential witnesses. The Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump, with just seven Republicans siding with all Democrats and independents, falling short of the 67 votes needed to convict. The vote came after confusion on how to proceed after the Senate unexpectedly voted to call witnesses. The move would have lengthened the trial, but was reversed after both sides agreed to instead enter the congresswoman's statement into evidence. House impeachment managers and Trump’s lawyers argued their cases over three days, with the prosecution arguing there is clear evidence Trump incited the violent Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and the defense saying the president’s political speech was protected by the First Amendment.

The Senate has acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, bringing his trial to a close and giving the former president a historic second victory in the court of impeachment. Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, and he is also now twice acquitted as the majority of Republicans defended his actions. Democrats argued that Trump had “obvious intent” as he egged on supporters they said were primed for violence. Trump’s lawyers argued that the trial was brought on by Democrats’ “hatred” of Trump and that it was unconstitutional because he had left office. And they argued that Trump was protected by freedom of speech and to convict him for something he said would set a dangerous precedent.

Rush Limbaugh, the talk titan who made right-wing radio financially viable in American media and himself a Republican kingmaker years before Fox News has died, after he revealed in 2020 that his lung cancer was terminal. His death was confirmed by his wife, Kathryn, at the beginning of Limbaugh's Thursday radio show, from which he's been absent for almost two weeks. A longtime cigar smoker who stocked the humidors in his homes and studios with the finest, Limbaugh succumbed to cancer after battling drug addiction and loss of hearing earlier in his career (he was deaf by the end and broadcast his daily show in spite of it). A Republican conservative and die-hard supporter of former President Donald Trump to the end, Limbaugh was among Trump's most important enablers of his failed effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election with baseless claims of voting fraud.